Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Suggested problems: 1-3, 5, 7, 9-11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 21-24 see pp 350-351. Omit (now) recombination, pp 343-346.
Watson-Crick Watson-Crick model of model for Semiconservative Semiconservative DNA DNA replication replication
How does a double helix produce another double helix with precision?
5 It has not escaped our notice that the specific pairing we have postulated immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material (Watson & Crick, 1953). 3 5 3 5 3
new old
(heavy).
heavy
mixed
light
because they each have a newly synthesized (labeled, light blue) DNA chain
A replication Fork
One enzyme dimer synthesizes both the leading and the lagging strand
Replicon
(Unidirectional Replication)
ssDNA strand stabilization by ssDNA-binding proteins Torsional strain release by gyrase or topoisomerase Priming (primase: a special RNA polymerase; Pol in
eukaryotes) When all of the above factors are in place, DNA polymerase can bind to the template and start synthesis. *Bloom syndrome is due to a mutant helicase.
Each origin produces a replicon with two forks, and the forks move in opposite direction Initiation of Replication at an origin
Left Fork
Right Fork
5 to 3 chain elongation by adding new nucleotides to the 3-end of the growing chain
A misincorporated base (A in this example) is removed and then replaced with a correct base (C in this example).
Mismatch repair corrects a wrong base in newly replicated DNA. The newly replicated DNA is recognized based on its lack of methylation
Additional Points
There are 2 DNA polymerases (I and III) in prokaryotes
as opposed to 4 (, , , ) in eukaryotes. Okazaki fragments are synthesized by Pol III, , , . Organelle DNA is synthesized by . There are other DNA polymerases; they are involved in DNA repair.
fidelity as a result DNA polymerases accuracy, proofreading activity, and post-replication mismatch repair.
The same enzyme molecule (a dimer) synthesizes both the leading and the lagging strand. The enzyme has a fixed position within the nucleus, the DNA template is threaded through it. The telomeres or the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes are synthesized by a special reverse transcriptase (telomerase). Lack of telomerase activity leads to shortening of chromosome ends and is implicated in aging and eventually death. Cancer cells do not lose telomerase activity.
In eukaryotes, many replication origins are needed, and they are used only once under the control of licensing proteins (binding of licensing proteins). What would be the result without licensing? Prior to replication, the nucleosome must dissociate (histones removed) to expose the naked DNA to the replication machinery. After replication, the nucleosome reassembles, which requires doubling the amount of histones.
has a gap
This gap cannot be lled by DNA polymerases because they cannot extend a chain in the 3-5 direction
The chain extended by telomerase loops back, serves as a primer, and its 3end is extended by DNA polymerase
10