DNA Replication Flashcards
G1 phase
- period of cell growth
- many structural components and metabolic enzymes are synthesized here
- towards the end DNA polymerases and other replication enzymes are synthesized
G2 phase
- checkpoint that checks to make sure cells are ready to divide
- prevents cells from entering mitosis with DNA damages since last division, providing opportunity for DNA repair and stopping proliferation of damaged cells
- -some synthesis of cell materials occurs here, (tubulin monomers for microtubule assembly)
- synthesis of wall & membrane components
general characteristics of DNA replication
- chemically unidirectional (5’ -> 3’)
- spatially bidirectional (2 forks at once in opposite directions)
- semi-conservative
- semi discontinuous
semi-discontinuous
DNA polymerase can’t stay on DNA strand the whole time without falling off and new polymerase coming on
origin of replication
the region of DNA that first separates and replication begins
bi-directional replication
DNA replication proceeds in both directions away from origin of replication
replication fork
point of separation of double-stranded DNA at which incorporation of nucleotides occurs during DNA replication
semi-conservative replication
where each separated polynucleotide strand serves as a template for the synthesis of a single new complementary strand
okazaki fragments
- the name given to discontinuous fragments of DNA synthesized in lagging strand
- 100-200 nucleotides in eukaryotes
- 1000-2000 nucleotides in prokaryotes
overview of DNA replication in E. coli
- initial unwinding, separation, and stabilization of duplex DNA (several proteins)
- primer synthesis (primase- RNA template)
- DNA synthesis (DNA polymerase)
- Replace RNA primers with DNA
- seal gaps between okazaki fragments on lagging strand (ligase)
- termination of synthesis (“ter” protein, telomerase)
initiation
-unwind and stabilize duplex DNA to form replication fork
initiation factors
DnaA proteins bind to origin of replication
helicase
DnaB protein catalyzes ATP-deendent unwinding of duplex DNA
topoisomerases
- prevent supercoiling & tangling of DNA during unwinding
- bind ahead of replication fork, nick supercoiling DNA, releases stress by allowing uncoiling
formation of replication fork
- 20-40 DnaA proteins bind to oriC sequence forming nucleosome-like structure
- localized melting causes a small segment of DNA to open up
- DnaB (helicase) enters oriC region and unwinds DNA
- single stranded binding proteins attach to keep strands apart and protect against nucleases
oriC
origin sequence, where initiation of replication begins
-contains four 9 base pair repeats
primase
- an RNA polymerase synthesizes a short RNA primer
- DNA polymerase CANT initiate DNA synthesis-can only add nucleotides to the end of a chain that is base-paired with template strand
- RNA polymerase can initiate synthesis without a primer
DNA polymerase I function
- fills in gaps
- repairs miss-matched pairs
- replaces primer RNA during replication with DNA
DNA polymerase II function
- thought to also be involved in some repair processes
- prevalent during stationary phase