DNA Replication Flashcards
When and where does DNA replication occur?
During Interphase
Eukaryotes, the nucleus
Prokaryotes, the cytoplasm nucleoid region
What is helicase and its role in DNA replication?
An enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds between the two DNA strands in the DNA molecule that is going to be replicated.
What is polymerase and its role in DNA replication?
An enzyme that catalyses the condensation reactions between the new nucleotides in the synthesis of the new DNA strand.
What is primase and its role in DNA replication?
An enzyme that synthesizes RNA primers, which are short pieces of nucleic acid that bind to a DNA polymer.
What are RNA primers?
They are short pieces of nucleic acid that bind to a DNA polymer.
Why do we need primase in DNA replication?
It is required because DNA polymerases cannot start the synthesis of a DNA strand without a primer.
What is ligase and its role in DNA replication?
DNA ligase catalyses the formation of phosphodiester bonds in the DNA sugar-phosphate backbone
It brings all the molecules of the newly formed DNA or RNA strands together and permanently binds them with a phosphodiester bond, so that they dont just fall apart
What does SSB Protein stand for?
single-stranded DNA binding protein
What is SSB proteins used for?
Bind to DNA single and newly split strands and keep them separated
