DNA replication Flashcards
How is DNA ‘semi-conservative’?
Each parent strand is used as a template
Contains information which dictates the order of the nucleotides in the newly synthesised strand
Each daughter strand contains one strand from the parent strand
Which direction does DNA synthesis occur in?
How is this different to the movement of RNA pol II?
5’ –> 3’
RNA pol II moves along DNA in the 3’ –> 5’ direction
Which bonds are present in DNA?
Phosphodiester bonds
How does DNA replication occur?
Sequential polymerisation of of new nucleotide at the 3’ end:
Nucleophillic attack by the 3’ -OH on the sugar on the incoming DEOXYRIBONUCLEOSIDE TRIOSPHOSPHATE
Why is DNA synthesis effectively an ‘irreversible reaction’?
It is coupled to the breakdown of PPi (pyrophosphate) to 2Pi (2 x inorganic phosphate)
The breakdown of the 2 high energy phosphate bond provides the free energy for DNA synthesis
Why is DNA synthesis a high exothermic reaction?
Production of 2 inorganic phosphates from pyrophospahte as each deoxyribonucleoside phosphate is added to the growing DNA chain
Breaking a phosphate bond releases high energy required for the DNA synthesis
Why are molecules of DNA added as deoxyribonucleoside TRIphosphates?
COUPLED REACTION:
To able the 2 of phosphate molecules to be released as PRYOPHOSPHATE
And then, to allow pyrophosphate to be broken down into 2 individual phosphate molecules
Breakage of TWO high energy bonds
What enzyme break pyrophosphate into 2 inorganic phosphate molecules?
Pyrophosphatase
What is the ‘equation’ for DNA synthesis?
dNTP + (dNMP)n –> (dNMP)n+1 + 2Pi
Deoxyribonucleoside TRIphosphate + Deoxyribonucleoside MONOphosphate –> …
How is DNA synthesis initiated?
By creating a replication fork where DNA strands are separated
By the extension of an RNA primer
Which enzyme separates the paired DNA strands?
DNA helicase
How does DNA synthesis occur on the ‘lagging strand’?
What does this mean?
In the OPPOSITE direction to the replication fork
Still in the 5’ –> 3’ direction (DNA is anti-parallel)
Means that the lagging strand cannot be synthesised continuously
What are Okazaki fragments?
Short fragments formed on the lagging strand of DNA synthesis, due to the antiparallel and unidirectional orientation of DNA
What enzyme synthesises the RNA primer on DNA?
DNA primase (a type of RNA polymerase)
How long is the DNA primer?
20 nucleotides in length
How does DNA primase bind to DNA?
WITHOUT the need for a primer
What does DNA polymerase do?
On the lagging strand?
Extends the RNA primer laid down by DNA primase
On the lagging strand:
- Extends the primer to the 5’ end of the previous Okazaki fragment
- THEN, extends the 3’ end of the UPSTREAM Okazaki fragments after ribonuclease H has removed the RNA template
What does ribonuclease H do?
Removes the RNA primer between the junction of Okazaki fragments
Creating a gap
What is ribonuclease H specific for?
The RNA component of the RNA-DNA hybrid molecule
What does DNA ligase do?
Seals the nick between 2 Okazaki fragments in a 2 step reaction to create one CONTINUOUS strand
Where does DNA ligase get the energy from to ligate Okazaki fragments together?
ATP hydrolysis
From the breakdown of pyrophosphate by pyrophosphatase
What is the first step of catalysation by DNA ligase ‘sealing the nick’?
- Covalent attachment of AMP from ATP to the 5’ end of the nick, forming ADP (adenosine diphosphate)
Uses 1 molecule of ATP