Answer to Question #214494 in Molecular Biology for Moe

Question

2.2) Name each protein involved in the replication of DNA and state its function.

Answer 1

RNA primase: before DNA polymerase can begin replication, it needs a primer , the primer is provided by the RNA primase allowing the DNA polymerase to attach to the primer just sinthetized and begin replication

Helicase : the DNA in order to be replicated, needs to be unwinded first. This is achieved by the Elycase that unwinds the DNA in two DNA single strands

SSB proteins ( single strand binding proteins ): once DNA has been unwinded, it must not zip again, this is achieved by these proteins that by binding to the single stranded DNA, prevent it to wind back

Topoisomerase: while unzipping, some supercoiled structures form downstream from the point where the DNA is being unzipped. This supercoiling, may forms “knots” preventing DNA to be further unzipped and therefore blocking DNA replication. This is fixed by Topoisomerase.