Learning Goal - DNA Replication - Role of helicase and DNA polymerase in DNA replication

4 important questions on Learning Goal - DNA Replication - Role of helicase and DNA polymerase in DNA replication

What is an origin of replication on a eukaryotic chromosome?

A particular site on the DNA molecule where the parental strands have been unwound by helicase, opening up a replication bubble.

Stage 1 of DNA Replication: Helicase. What does helicase do?

Helicase unwinds the double helix structure of the DNA molecule at the origin of replication by breaking the hydrogen bonds between the DNA strands formed from complementary base pairing, exposing the parental DNA templates, allowing other enzymes to work on the strands separately.

Stage 2 of DNA Replication: DNA Polymerase 3. What does this do?

Adds nucleotides to the exposed parental DNA strands in accordance with complementary base pairing, synthesizing a new DNA strand
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Stage 2 of DNA Replication: DNA Polymerase 3: What direction does this work in and what direction is the new strand synthesised in?

Nucleotides are only added to the 3' end of the parental template strand due to it's specificity in binding --> hence, new strand is only synthesised in the 5' to 3' direction.

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