Describe the typical major elements of a replication fork.

Briefly describe the major elements of a replication fork. A replication fork is the junction between newly synthesized DNA and parental DNA during DNA replication. Major elements of a replication fork include: 1. DNA helicase: an enzyme that unwinds the double-stranded DNA molecule. 2. Single-strand binding proteins (SSBs): stabilize single-stranded DNA produced by helicase activity. 3. Topoisomerase: relieves torsional strain caused by the unwinding of the double helix. 4. Primase: synthesizes a short RNA primer as the starting point for DNA replication. 5. DNA polymerase: the main enzyme responsible for replicating DNA. 6. Leading and lagging strands: due to the antiparallel nature of DNA, replication occurs in two different directions—continuous (leading strand) and discontinuous (lagging strand). 7. DNA ligase: seals the breaks between Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand, forming a continuous DNA strand.