Name: Windi Dawn Monique Salleva

DNA REPLICATION, TRANSCRIPTION, TRANSLATION QUIZ

Multiple Choice. Choose the best answer and give a good explanation why you choose
such answer. If your explanation does not support your choice the item has no point.
__b_1. Describe the role of helicase?
a. Nicks DNA backbone to relieve supercoils
b. Unwinds the DNA template at the replication fork
c. Prevents DNA from recombining
d. facilitates formation of phosphodiester bonds
Explanation: Helicase is one of the first proteins necessary for initiating DNA replication.
It is responsible for unwinding the DNA double-helix and separating the hydrogen bonds
that hold the two strands together. This allows DNA polymerase to enter the replication
fork and recruit nucleotides to build daughter DNA molecules.

__a_2. In which of the following structures DNA replication begins?

a. Origin of replication
b. Replication fork
c. DNA polymerase III
d. Helicase
Explanation: The origin of replication is the particular sequence in the genome where
DNA replication begins. In prokaryotes, there is a single origin of replication, whereas
there are multiple origins of replication in eukaryotes. At the origin of replication in
eukaryotes, certain proteins bind to form the origin recognition complex. This complex is
then used to recruit replication proteins and initiate the process of DNA replication.

__a_3. It is the primary prokaryotic replicatory polymerase that can proofread DNA and
fix incorrect base pairs due to its 3'-5' endonuclease function
a. DNA polymerase III
b. DNA polymerase II
c. DNA polymerase I
d. RNA polymerase I
Explanation: DNA polymerase III is the main replicatory polymerase in prokaryotic cells,
responsible for synthesizing daughter DNA strands during replication. DNA polymerase I
performs more specialized functions, such as synthesizing DNA during DNA repair
pathways.

__a_4. A select mutation is causing a cell lineage to be unable to replicate DNA

successfully. When observed under a microscope, researchers observe that the DNA is
able to be separated, but the template strands keep coming back together before the new
strands can be replicated.
Based on this observation, which protein involved in DNA replication is most likely
mutated?
a. Single-stranded binding protein
b. DNA helicase
c. DNA polymerase
d. DNA primase
Explanation: Since the strands can be successfully "unzipped" from one another, this
suggests that DNA helicase is working just fine. There is also nothing in the prompt that
states the synthesis of new strands is not working, so DNA polymerase is fine as well.
The problem involves keeping the strands separated for a long enough time. This is the
job of single-stranded binding proteins. Because of this, we can argue that this protein is
mutated in the cell.

__d_5. What 3' functional group must be free in order to add the next nucleotide during
DNA synthesis?
a. Phosphate
b. Amine
c. carboxylic acid
d. hydroxyl
Explanation: DNA synthesis requires a free 3' hydroxyl (-OH) group to add the next
nucleotide base. Drugs that block DNA replication often have a modified 3' hydroxyl
group, which prevents the addition of the next nucleotide and results in chain termination.
__a_6. Which enzyme is responsible for removing the RNA primers added during DNA
replication?
a. DNA Polymerase I
b. DNA polymerase III
c. DNA ligase
c. primase
Explanation: In order for DNA polymerase III to lengthen the new DNA strands, RNA
primers must be put in place as a template. Once the strands are done being made, the
RNA primers are removed and replaced with DNA nucleotides by DNA polymerase I.

__d_7. Why there are both leading and lagging strands

during DNA replication?
a. There are not enough RNA primers to have both strands be synthesized
simultaneously
b. DNA polymerase can only synthesize one strand at a time
c. Only one strand is available to be read at any given time
d. DNA polymerase can only read in the 3'-to-5' direction
Explanation: When the DNA helix is opened by DNA helicase, both strands are available
to be read by DNA polymerase. However, since DNA polymerase can only read from 3'-
to-5', one strand must be synthesized in segments (called Okazaki fragments), rather
than one continuous strand. The leading strand is read in the 3'-to-5' direction away from
the replication fork, while the lagging strand is read in the 3'-to-5' direction toward the
replication fork. This results in a leading and a lagging strand due to the antiparallel
structure of DNA.

_c__8. Which of the following is true with regards to the leading strand during DNA
replication?
a. It can read the template strand in the 5' to 3' direction.
b. It requires the joining of Okazaki fragments.
c. It only requires one DNA polymerase III in order to complete the strand.
e. It does not require an RNA primer.
Explanation: In DNA replication, the synthesis of new strands can be accomplished in
both directions. In each direction, you will have both a leading strand and a lagging strand.
While both new strands require an RNA primer in order to get started, the leading strand
can be continuously synthesized because the template strand is exposed in a 3' to 5'
direction. As a result, only one DNA polymerase III is required for this strand.

_b__9. Why are Okazaki fragments necessary

a. Because DNA polymerase can not read continuously in either direction.
b. Because DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotide to the 5-prime end of a DNA
strand.
c. Because DNA polymerase can only add new nucleotides to the 3-prime end of a DNA
strand
d. Because DNA polymerase falls off the DNA template very easily
Explanation: The Okazaki fragments are important for DNA synthesis because there is
no 3’ to 5’ strand of DNA for the polymerase to use as a continuous template. Therefore,
the Okazaki fragments allow for discontinuous DNA synthesis by allowing the DNA
Polymerase to work backwards, moving away from the replication fork, but then jump
back to the fork to the next RNA primer to begin a new Okazaki fragment.

___a_10. All newly synthesized polynucleotide strands must be initiated by

a. RNA polymerase
b. DNA polymerase
c. gyrase
d. helicase
Explanation: All newly synthesized polynucleotide strands must be initiated by a
specialized RNA polymerase called primase. Primase initiates polynucleotide synthesis
and by creating a short RNA polynucleotide strand complementary to template DNA
strand. This short stretch of RNA nucleotides is called the primer. Once RNA primer has
been synthesized at the template DNA, primase exits, and DNA polymerase extends the
new strand with nucleotides complementary to the template DNA.