DNA Replication

Evy Yulianti
1. General considerations.
A. Function of replication.

1. Proteins must have the correct

shape.
2. The shape is determined by the
primary structure (amino acid
sequence.
3. The amino acid sequence is
determined by the gene (the
sequence of bases in the DNA).
B.
The flow of genetic information in
the cell.
Replication

C&F
Replication = “duplication of DNA
giving rise to a new molecule of DNA
with the same base sequence as
the original” – cell division
The flow of genetic information in
the cell.

Transcription
Transcription
Synthesis of an mRNA
(messenger RNA)
using the DNA template.
The flow of genetic information in
the cell.
Translation
Translation: Synthesis of proteins
using the mRNA as a template.

3 bases codes for 1 amino acid

 The flow of genetic information in
the cell.

DNA  RNA  protein

The flow of genetic information in
the cell.
RNA viruses

Retroviruses
such as HIV
Reverse transcriptase
Challenger for the replication process

1. Separate the two strands -

Protect the unwound strands from
nucleases.
2. DNA must be synthesized from
5’ to 3’.
3. Protect against errors during
synthesis.
DNA is synthesized
semi-conservatively.

Each newly-synthesized DNA

molecule contains 1new strand
and 1 old one.
DNA synthesized is bidirectional, starting
at the origin.
DNA synthesis
is semi-conservative.
2. DNA is synthesized by DNA polymerase III.
1. DNA-dependent DNA polymerase –
needs a template – the old DNA strand.

2. Needs all 4 – dTP (deoxythymidine

triphosphate)
dCTP
dATP
dGTP
3. Requires a primer – RNA –
synthesized by a primase

4. Has 3’ exonuclease activity.

Can remove 1 nucleotide from the
3’ end. - backspace key.

Proofread.
Before proofreading 1 mistake in 105
After proofreading, 1 mistake in 107
+ other factors  1 mistake in 109
DNA polymerase
DNA is synthesized
From 5’3’
 5’ 3’

3’
DNA unwinds

Leading
strand
3’ 5’ 5’

Add a new nucleotide to

the 3’ end.
Synthesizes a continuous
strand.
 5’ 3’

DNA unwinds

Leading Lagging
strand strand

Can not add new nucleotide to the 5’ end.

Start a new strand synthesized 5’3’
Okazaki fragment.
 One strand is formed
disconinuously.

Leading strand –
continuously
Lagging strand
discontinusously
Okazaki fragments
put together with a C&F

ligase.
The process complex.
DNA needs a primer – RNA.

1. The enzyme primase synthesizes a

small piece of RNA, complementary
to the template DNA.

2. The Okazaki fragments are synthesized

starting with this primer.
3. The RNA primer is removed by
DNA polymerase I and replaced with
deoxynucleotides.

4. The ligase joins the strands.

5. DNA polymerase I also corrects mistakes.

Replication fork – where DNA synthesis
takes place.
 SSB – Sinble
Polymerase Stramd bomdomg
protein

DNA
Gyrase

Helicase
Leading strand

Lagging strand
Primer
Okazaki
fragment
Replication fork – where DNA synthesis
takes place.