What are the two types of DNA strands involved in DNA synthesis?
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Leading strand and lagging strand.
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What are the two types of DNA strands involved in DNA synthesis?
Leading strand and lagging strand.
What is the significance of the semi-conservative replication model?
It shows that each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
In which direction does DNA synthesis proceed?
DNA synthesis always proceeds in the 5ʹ→3ʹ direction.
What is produced when Topoisomerase I cleaves one strand of DNA?
It produces a relaxed circle conformation of the DNA.
What is the function of DNA Polymerase alpha (DNA Pol a) in DNA replication?
It synthesizes RNA primers and extends Okazaki fragments by approximately 10 nucleotides, but lacks 3’ à 5’ exonuclease activity.
What are the three requirements for DNA synthesis?
In which direction are new DNA strands synthesized?
New DNA strands are always synthesized in the 5' → 3' direction.
What do DNA polymerases require to initiate replication?
DNA polymerases require a primer to initiate replication.
Why is DNA replication necessary during cell division?
To ensure that each daughter cell has an exact copy of the genome.
What initiates the activation of helicases at the replication origin?
Two hexameric helicases bind at the replication origin in opposite orientations and are activated by a kinase through phosphorylation.
What does Rfc stand for in the context of DNA replication?
Rfc stands for Replication factor C.
How does DNA polymerase add new dNTPs during DNA synthesis?
DNA polymerase adds a new dNTP at the 3' end of the primer strand as specified by base-pairing with the template DNA strand.
What mechanism does primase operate under during DNA replication?
Primase operates under a bidirectional mechanism of DNA replication.
What do Primase – Pol α complexes synthesize during DNA replication?
Short primers that are base-paired to each of the separated parent strands.
What is the association between defects in DNA repair and cancer?
Defects in DNA repair are associated with cancers.
How are the lagging-strand Okazaki fragments connected to the leading strands?
They are stitched to the 5ʹ ends of the leading strands by DNA ligase.
What happens to growing Okazaki fragments during DNA synthesis?
Growing Okazaki fragments displace the previous primer, and the elongated fragments are ligated into a continuous strand.
What is the primary mechanism of DNA replication?
The primary mechanism of DNA replication is semi-conservative replication, where each new DNA molecule consists of one original strand and one newly synthesized strand.
How long would it take to replicate an average eukaryotic chromosome of 150 million nucleotide pairs at a rate of 0.02 seconds per nucleotide?
It would take approximately 3 million seconds, or about 34.7 days, to replicate the entire chromosome.
What must each daughter cell contain after cell division?
Exactly the same genetic information as the parent cell.
What is the role of the origin recognition complex (ORC) in DNA replication?
The ORC binds to each replication origin and associates with other proteins required to load two hexameric helicases, oriented in opposite directions.
What is the role of Topoisomerase I in DNA replication?
Topoisomerase I associates with the parental DNA strand ahead of the helicase and removes torsional stress introduced by unwinding of strands.
What is the role of PCNA in DNA replication?
PCNA acts as a ‘sliding clamp’ to stabilize the polymerase.
What enzyme converts RNA to DNA in the lagging-strand synthesis?
Pol δ converts RNA to DNA.
What type of polymerase is primase?
Primase is an RNA polymerase.
How does the bidirectional mechanism of DNA replication work?
The bidirectional mechanism of DNA replication involves two replication forks moving away from the origin of replication, allowing simultaneous synthesis of both strands.
What is the model of an SV40 DNA replication fork commonly referred to as?
Replisome
Who are the researchers associated with the study of Okazaki fragments?
Tsuneko and Reiji Okazaki.
How many cells are there in our body?
There are approximately 37 trillion cells in the human body.
What types of DNA are subject to torsional stress during replication and transcription?
Both linear (eukaryote genomes, viral DNAs) and circular (bacterial genomes, mitochondrial DNA) are subject to torsional stress.
What role does DNA Polymerase delta (DNA Pol d) play in DNA replication?
It is responsible for lagging strand synthesis, has high processivity, and possesses 3’ à 5’ exonuclease activity.
What enzyme removes RNA during the lagging-strand synthesis?
Ribonuclease removes RNA.
What characterizes the synthesis of the lagging strand?
The lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously from multiple RNA primers formed periodically as each new region of the parent duplex is unwound.
What is the polarity relationship between newly synthesized DNA strands and their template strands?
New DNA strands are opposite in polarity to their template DNA strands.
What mechanisms are involved in DNA repair?
DNA repair mechanisms include base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and mismatch repair, which correct various types of DNA damage.
What is the base complementarity in DNA?
Guanine pairs with Cytosine (G ≡ C) and Adenine pairs with Thymine (A = T).
What experiment did Meselson and Stahl conduct in 1957?
They conducted an experiment that demonstrated the semi-conservative nature of DNA replication.
What is the role of Topoisomerase I in DNA?
Topoisomerase I relieves torsional stress on DNA by cleaving one strand to allow unwinding, producing a relaxed circle conformation.
How are eukaryotic chromosomal DNA molecules structured in terms of replication origins?
Eukaryotic chromosomal DNA molecules contain multiple replication origins separated by tens to hundreds of kilobases.
What complexes displace the primase-Pol α complexes during lagging-strand synthesis?
PCNA-Rfc-Pol δ complexes displace the primase-Pol α complexes.
What strands are generated at each replication fork?
The leading strands (dark green) are generated at each replication fork.
What bond does DNA polymerase catalyze during DNA synthesis?
DNA polymerase catalyzes the formation of a phosphodiester bond between the 3' oxygen of the primer strand and the α phosphate of a correctly base-paired dNTP.
From what precursors is DNA synthesized?
DNA is synthesized from deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTP) precursors.
What are Okazaki fragments?
Okazaki fragments are short sequences of DNA synthesized on the lagging strand during DNA replication, which are later joined together by DNA ligase.
How many nucleotides in our body are in need of replication?
The number of nucleotides in our body is vast, as each cell contains approximately 6 billion base pairs of DNA.
What process is responsible for copying the DNA sequence of each chromosome during cell division?
DNA replication.
What is the primary function of DNA Polymerase epsilon (DNA Pol e)?
Leading strand synthesis with high processivity and 3’ à 5’ exonuclease activity.
How do helicases contribute to DNA replication?
Helicases use ATP hydrolysis energy to move in opposite directions, unwinding the parent DNA and generating single-stranded templates, which are bound by RPA proteins.
What is the direction of nucleotide addition by DNA polymerase during DNA synthesis?
DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to a growing daughter strand in the 5ʹ→3ʹ direction.
What are Okazaki fragments?
Okazaki fragments are produced during the elongation of lagging-strand primers and are initially formed as short segments.
What is the difference between leading and lagging strand synthesis?
Leading strand synthesis occurs continuously in the direction of the replication fork, while lagging strand synthesis occurs in short segments called Okazaki fragments, away from the fork.
What complexes are involved in extending the leading strands during DNA replication?
PCNA - Rfc - Pol ε complexes extend the leading strands.
What binds to the newly exposed single-stranded regions during DNA replication?
RPA proteins bind to the newly exposed single-stranded regions.
What are the three excision repair systems?
Base excision repair, Nonhomologous end joining, and Homologous recombination.
What is necessary for DNA polymerases to begin second strand growth?
DNA polymerases require a short, preexisting RNA or DNA primer strand that is base-paired to the template strand.
What complexes replace the primase-Pol α complexes during DNA replication?
PCNAc – Rfc – Pol ε complexes replace the primase – Pol α complexes.
What is the role of primase in DNA replication?
Primase synthesizes RNA primers for lagging-strand synthesis at each replication fork.
What role do DNA polymerases play in DNA replication?
DNA polymerases are enzymes that synthesize new DNA strands by adding nucleotides complementary to the template strand.
How can genetic instability lead to cancer?
Genetic instability can lead to cancer by increasing the rate of mutations and chromosomal abnormalities, which can disrupt normal cell function and promote uncontrolled cell growth.
What role do helicases play in DNA replication?
Helicases continue to unwind the parent strands during DNA replication.
What are the causes of DNA sequence changes?
Copying errors and the effects of various physical and chemical agents.
What proteins bind to the separated parent strands at an origin during DNA replication?
Replication Protein A (RPA) proteins bind to the separated parent strands at an origin.
How is the leading strand synthesized?
The leading strand is synthesized continuously from a single RNA primer at its 5ʹ end.
What are the main types of eukaryotic DNA polymerases?
The main types of eukaryotic DNA polymerases include DNA polymerase α, δ, and ε, each with distinct roles in DNA replication and repair.
What is the function of topoisomerases during DNA replication?
Topoisomerases relieve the torsional strain generated ahead of the replication fork by introducing temporary breaks in the DNA strands.