DNA Synthesis Mechanism Quiz

DNA synthesis occurs by adding nucleotides to the 3' end of a primer strand.

The enzyme that breaks down pyrophosphate (PPi) into two inorganic phosphates (Pi).

The reaction that adds a nucleotide to a growing DNA strand.

The energy required for DNA synthesis comes from the hydrolysis of pyrophosphate (PPi) into two inorganic phosphates (Pi).

The template strand and the newly synthesized strand run in opposite directions.

The process of DNA synthesis involves attaching a new nucleotide to the 3' end of the primer strand using the template strand as a guide.

The chemical reaction that links nucleotides together to form a DNA strand.

The 3' end of the primer has a hydroxyl group (OH) that attacks the phosphate of the incoming nucleotide, forming a phosphodiester bond.

Deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) are the building blocks of DNA, consisting of a deoxyribose sugar, a nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or thymine), and three phosphate groups.

The a-phosphate is the phosphate group closest to the deoxyribose sugar, while the b-phosphate and g-phosphate are the middle and outer phosphate groups, respectively.

A primer:template junction is a specific arrangement of DNA where a short, single-stranded primer is annealed to a longer, single-stranded template.

The template strand serves as a guide for DNA synthesis, dictating which nucleotides are added to the newly synthesized strand.

The primer is a short, single-stranded DNA molecule that initiates DNA synthesis by providing a free 3'-OH group for the first nucleotide to attach to.

The primer must have a free 3'-OH group at the end that is adjacent to the single-stranded region of the template. This free 3'-OH is where new nucleotides are added.

DNA polymerase adds new nucleotides to the free 3'-OH end of the primer, extending the chain in a 5' to 3' direction.

Both the primer and the template are essential for DNA synthesis. The primer provides the starting point for the new DNA strand, while the template dictates the sequence of nucleotides to be added.