What are the roles of DNA polymerases in E. coli during DNA synthesis, and how do they affect the leading and lagging strands?
Understand the Problem
The question is discussing the characteristics of DNA polymerases in E. coli, specifically their roles in DNA synthesis, the formation of the leading and lagging strands, and the functions of different enzymes involved in these processes.
Answer
DNA polymerase III synthesizes both strands; I removes primers and fills gaps.
In E. coli, DNA polymerase III is the main enzyme for DNA synthesis, extending both leading and lagging strands. The leading strand is continuous, needing only one primer, while the lagging strand is synthesized in Okazaki fragments, each requiring a primer. DNA polymerase I removes RNA primers and fills gaps between fragments.
Answer for screen readers
In E. coli, DNA polymerase III is the main enzyme for DNA synthesis, extending both leading and lagging strands. The leading strand is continuous, needing only one primer, while the lagging strand is synthesized in Okazaki fragments, each requiring a primer. DNA polymerase I removes RNA primers and fills gaps between fragments.
More Information
DNA polymerase III is crucial for elongation, while DNA polymerase I handles primer removal and gap-filling. This division of labor ensures high fidelity and efficiency during DNA replication.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the roles of DNA polymerase I and III; remember, III is for synthesis, I for primer removal.
Sources
- Replication fidelity in E. coli: differential leading and lagging strand - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- DNA Polymerase III Holoenzyme - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- Roles of DNA polymerase I in leading and lagging-strand replication - academic.oup.com
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