L4 - DNA Replication Flashcards
(124 cards)
What does the semi conservative nature of DNA replication mean?
Each of the parental strands acts as a template for the synthesis of the daughter strands
What direction can DNA rep occur in
5’ –> 3’
What is found at the 3’ end
Hydroxyl
What is found at the 5’ end
Phosphate
What can be said about the orientation of the template strands
They are antiparallel
Why is replication essentially irreversible
Because it is coupled to the breakdown of pyrophosphate making is highly unfavourable
What is the structure of pyrophosphate
2 inorganic phosphate molecules
What enzyme catalyses the breakdown of pyrophosphate
Pyrophosphatase
What is the equilibrium constant for the replication … what does this mean
10^5
Highly favoured in the forward direction
What is a dNTP
Dinucelotide tripohsophate
What is a dNMP
Dinucleotide monophosphate
What is the formation for replication
dNTP + (dNMP)n –> (dNMP)n+1 + 2Pi ``
What enzyme seperates the paired DNA strands
DNA helicase
Why can the leading strand be continuously synthesied
5’ –> 3’ direction
What must the lagging strand be synthesied as
Okazaki framgments
All synthesis of DNA occurs as a result of extension of an
RNA primer
What enzyme lays the RNA primer
DNA primase
What does DNA primase require for it to work
DNA template
NTPs
What 4 enzymes are required for the synthesis of the lagging strand
DNA primase
DNA polymerase
Ribonuclease H
DNA ligase
Function of DNA primase
Makes and lays down the RNA primer
Function of DNA polymerase
Extension of the RNA primer with dNTP
Function of Ribonuclease H
Removes the RNA primer
What can be said about the specificity of ribonuclease H
Absolutely specific for RNA/DNA hybrid molecules
Function of DNA ligase
Seals the nick joining the Okazaki fragments