Lecture 3 Flashcards
How many base pairs are in a human genome?
3x10^9
What is the error rate of DNA replication?
1 mistake in every 10^9 base pairs is seen following DNA replication
How are most errors corrected?
Proofreading and DNA repair
How many nucleotides are changed every cell division?
3
How are errors further corrected?
By post replication repair mechanisms
Why do germ cells need to have a low mutation rate?
To maintain the species
Why do somatic cells need low mutation rates?
To avoid uncontrolled proliferation/cancer
What enzyme synthesizes DNA? How?
DNA polymerase
Brings in an incoming deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate that bonds with the hydroxyl group of the DNA residue on the primer chain. P2O7 falls off and another residue is on the DNA chain
What decides the type of dNTP added to the primer strand?
The template
New chain is assembled in a preexisting template that is complementary to incoming bases
In order to use the template what is required?
The separation of the two parental strands
Needs enough nucleotides - dATP, dGTP, dCTP and dTTP
DNA polymerase requires a primer with a free 3’-OH to begin
How does the primer strand extend?
5’->3’
Replication fork is ___________
Asymmetric
In what order are the strands of DNA replicated?
Both are simultaneously replicated
In what direction does DNA polymerase synthesize DNA?
5’ -> 3’ direction
What is the leading strand?
Strand that is synthesized continuously 5’ ->3’ and its template is in the 3’ -> 5’ direction
What is the lagging strand?
Strand synthesized in segments because its template is in the 5’->3’ direction
How is proofreading done by DNA polymerase?
DNA polymerase makes a mistake out of every 10^9 nucleotides but DNA polymerase tightens its fingers around the active site, before a new nucleotide is added. If the fingers can tighten then the correct base pair is in place
What is exonucleolytic proofreading?
When a incorrect base is added, the base does not pair with the template. DNA polymerase requires a perfectly paired 3’ -OH terminus so the action of the DNA polymerase going backwards 3’-5’ cause it to exonuclease to clip off unpaired residue at 3’primer terminus
Why is DNA replicated 5’->3’?
Because it allows for efficient error correction in a energy conserved way
How is the lagging strand replicated?
Replicated through backstitching process:
- DNA primase synthesized a 10 nt long RNA primer to prime DNA synthesis
- Once DNA polymerase makes fragments of DNA along the lagging strand, RNA primer is erased by RNAseH and replaces it with DNA.
- DNA ligase joins the ends
Why does the DNA primase use RNA and not DNA?
DNA primase can sit down on the DNA without a primer and synthesize RNA, but with this ability there is not much of a proof reading ability. That is possibly why RNA is used so there can be more mistakes but ends up getting erased when RNA is degraded
What must happen before replication takes place?
DNA helicase must unwind DNA
What is the structure of DNA helicase?
6 identical subunits that binds and hydrolyzes ATP