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Chapter 10: Problem 10

Kornberg showed that nucleotides are added to the 3 '-end of each growing DNA strand. In what way does an exposed \(3^{\prime}\) - OH group participate in strand elongation?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Short Answer: During DNA replication, the exposed 3'-OH group in a growing DNA strand participates in strand elongation by forming a phosphodiester bond with the phosphate group of the incoming nucleotide. This reaction is catalyzed by DNA polymerase, which reads the template strand and adds complementary nucleotides to the new strand. As new nucleotides are added to the 3'-end of the growing strand, the DNA strand extends in the 5'-3' direction.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the basic structure of DNA

DNA is a double-stranded, helical molecule composed of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA. Each nucleotide consists of a sugar (deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
02

Understand the directionality of DNA strands

Each DNA strand has a 5' end and a 3' end. This notation represents the carbon atoms in the deoxyribose sugar molecule. The phosphate groups are attached to the 5' carbon atom, and the OH groups are attached to the 3' carbon atom. The two strands in the DNA double helix are antiparallel, meaning their 5'-3' orientation is opposite to each other.
03

Explain the role of DNA polymerase

During DNA replication, an enzyme called DNA polymerase is responsible for adding new nucleotides to the growing DNA strand. The polymerase reads the nucleotide sequence on the template strand and adds complementary nucleotides to the new strand.
04

Describing the role of the 3'-OH group in strand elongation

During DNA replication, the exposed 3'-OH group of a growing DNA strand participates in strand elongation by forming a phosphodiester bond with the phosphate group of the incoming nucleotide. DNA polymerase catalyzes this reaction, where the phosphate group of the new nucleotide is released, and the 3'-OH group on the growing strand attacks the alpha-phosphate of the incoming nucleotide, creating a new phosphodiester bond and extending the strand by one nucleotide. This process of adding new nucleotides to the 3'-end of the growing DNA strand continues until the entire template strand is replicated, ensuring that the new strand forms in the 5'-3' direction, which is complementary to the template strand.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Compare conservative, semiconservative, and dispersive modes of DNA replication.

Outline the current model for DNA synthesis.

In this chapter, we focused on how DNA is replicated and synthesized. In particular, we elucidated the general mechanism of replication and described how DNA is synthesized when it is copied. Based on your study of these topics, answer the following fundamental questions: (a) What is the experimental basis for concluding that DNA replicates semiconservatively in both bacteria and eukaryotes? (b) How was it demonstrated that DNA synthesis occurs under the direction of DNA polymerase III and not polymerase I? (c) How do we know that in vivo DNA synthesis occurs in the \(5^{\prime}\) to \(3^{\prime}\) direction? (d) How do we know that DNA synthesis is discontinuous on one of the two template strands? (e) What observations reveal that a "telomere problem" exists during eukaryotic DNA replication, and how did we learn of the solution to this problem?

Several temperature-sensitive mutant strains of \(E .\) coli display the following characteristics. Predict what enzyme or function is being affected by each mutation. (a) Newly synthesized DNA contains many mismatched base pairs. (b) Okazaki fragments accumulate, and DNA synthesis is never completed. (c) No initiation occurs. (d) Synthesis is very slow. (e) Supercoiled strands remain after replication, which is never completed.

Distinguish between (a) unidirectional and bidirectional synthesis, and (b) continuous and discontinuous synthesis of DNA.
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