DNA polymerase

"DNA polymerase adds nucleotides to a growing DNA strand, guided by the sequence of the template strand. The growing DNA strand is assembled in the 5' to 3' direction with the appropriate base pairs formed at each position. Incoming nucleotides are added to the free 3' hydroxyl group that is presented at the end of the growing strand. The 3' end of the growing strand is positioned in the active site of DNA polymerase. Catalysis is carried out by two highly-conserved aspartate residues and several crucial magnesium ions. The correct incoming nucleotide, deoxyCTP in this case, is selected by the next unpaired base on the template strand. The incoming nucleotide is added to the growing strand. A new covalent phosphodiester bond is formed that extends the length of the growing strand by one nucleotide. The polymerase moves down the DNA to the next unpaired base on the template strand, and the catalytic process is repeated."

Essential Cell Biology, Second Edition
by Alberts, Bray, Hopkin, Johnson, Lewis, Raff, Roberts, Walter
copyright 2004 by Garland Science Publishing

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• DNA
• deoxyribonucleic
• acid
• polymerase
• enzyme
• strand
• base
• pair
• nucleotide
• aspartate
• magnesium
• phosphodiester
• bond
• catalysis
• cell
• biology
• biochemistry
• science

[jessemaurais]

Anyone think we'll ever be at the point of programming DNA for the design of cellular life, to the purpose of producing molecule factories?

[leaffan27]

see Craig Venter's research

[threecheerer]

what's the difference between thte 5' end and the 3' end? is it just phosphates are attached to the 5', and hydroxyl groups are attached to the 3' end?

[leaffan27]

yes there is a free phosphate group attached to 5' carbon at one end and a free hydroxyl group attached to the 3' carbon at the other..... plus nascent DNA is synthesized 5' --> 3'....also, the convention for writing out nucleotide sequences is 5' --> 3'

[tetranoob]

what word does she say at 0:56 ?

it sounds like ketalysis,

[leaffan27]

Catalysis....the function of the enzyme

[qrais]

is one and the same DNA polymerase replicate both strands?

[skyblazer7]

How does the polymerase know it's creating the proper strand? How does it proofread without having an exact copy of the DNA inside it? Is it all atomic bonds or is there a 'ghost in the machine'?

[amewsing]

@jessemaurais we have already done this - every day millions of diabetics receive a treatment of human insulin manufactured by bacterial factories. :)

[theIlluminous1]

FREE

3

OHHH

[94Hooch10]

@quikflow ur such a sad fucker

[1aaronaaron1]

@jessemaurais abd

[quikflow]

chick has a hot voice.