Shaira Razina E.

Tan
2015-11753
Chemistry 40
Summary of DNA Replication:
The two DNA strands that make up the helix that are to be copied are
separated and untwisted by DNA helicases at the replication origins. The
replication origin forms a Y shape, and is called a replication fork.
The replication fork moves down the DNA strand from an internal location
to the strand's end. The outcome is every replication fork will have a twin
replication fork that is moving in the opposite direction.
Together with helicases, Single-stranded binding proteins (SSB) keep the
parental DNA helix unwound and stabilized.
The leading strand is continuously being synthesized by the DNA
polymerase in the 5 3 direction.
The lagging strand is not created continuously unlike the leading strand. The
primase will synthesize RNA primer which is stretched by the DNA
polymerase to form an Okazaki fragment.
DNA Ligase stitches the Okazaki fragments together, creating a continuous
strand.

ENZYME FUNCTION

NAME IN
PROKARYOTES

Involved
in
synthesis, DNA Polymerase I
proofreading, repair and

NAME IN
EUKARYOTES
unknown

removal of RNA primers

DNA Polymerase III

Polymerase

DNA Polymerase II

Polymerase

Main polymerizing enzyme

(Synthesis of DNA in leading
strand)
Mitochondrial DNA
synthesis
Repair
enzymes
under
unusual conditions
Unknown function

DNA Polymerase III

Polymerase

unknown

Polymerase

Joining
of
Okazaki
fragments
(seals nicks in lagging
strands)
Introduce negative supercoils
(Removal
of
positive
supercoils
ahead
of
advancing replication forks)
Decatenation

DNA Ligase
(requires NAD)

DNA Ligase
(requires ATP)

DNA Topoisomerase II
(DNA gyrase)

DNA Topoisomerase II

Topoisomerase IV

unknown

Unwinds DNA double helix

Helicase

Helicase

Synthesis of RNA primers

Primase

Primase

Polymerizing enzyme
(Synthesis of DNA
lagging strand)
Repair enzyme

in

DNA Polymerase IV unknown

and V
unknown
Polymerase