Multiple Choice
Which enzyme is responsible for adding nucleotides to a DNA strand during replication?
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14. DNA Synthesis
DNA Polymerases
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What is the role of DNA ligase in the elongation of the lagging strand during DNA replication?
A
It joins Okazaki fragments by forming phosphodiester bonds.
B
It unwinds the DNA helix to allow replication to occur.
C
It adds nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing DNA strand.
D
It synthesizes RNA primers to initiate DNA synthesis.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the process of DNA replication, which involves the synthesis of new DNA strands from a template strand. This occurs in the 5' to 3' direction.
Recognize that the lagging strand is synthesized discontinuously in short segments known as Okazaki fragments, due to the antiparallel nature of DNA strands.
Identify the role of DNA ligase in DNA replication. DNA ligase is an enzyme responsible for joining these Okazaki fragments together.
Learn how DNA ligase works: it forms phosphodiester bonds between the 3' hydroxyl end of one fragment and the 5' phosphate end of the next fragment, effectively sealing the nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone.
Clarify that DNA ligase does not unwind the DNA helix, add nucleotides to the growing strand, or synthesize RNA primers. These functions are performed by other enzymes such as helicase, DNA polymerase, and primase, respectively.
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