Multiple Choice
Which enzyme is the principal catalyst that synthesizes new DNA strands during DNA replication?
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8. DNA Replication
Overview of DNA Replication
Multiple Choice
In the overview of DNA replication, which enzyme is responsible for “unzipping” the DNA double helix by breaking hydrogen bonds between base pairs at the replication fork?
A
Primase
B
DNA polymerase III
C
DNA helicase
D
DNA ligase
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the process of DNA replication, which involves unwinding the double helix to allow each strand to be copied.
Identify the role of enzymes involved in DNA replication: Primase synthesizes RNA primers, DNA polymerase III adds nucleotides, DNA ligase joins Okazaki fragments, and DNA helicase unwinds the DNA.
Focus on the specific function of breaking hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs to separate the two DNA strands at the replication fork.
Recognize that the enzyme responsible for this 'unzipping' action is DNA helicase, as it breaks the hydrogen bonds to open the double helix.
Conclude that DNA helicase initiates the replication process by creating single-stranded templates for the other enzymes to work on.
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