DNA polymerase is an enzyme responsible for synthesizing new DNA molecules by assembling nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA, in a sequence complementary to a DNA template strand. It plays a crucial role in DNA replication, where it creates two identical DNA duplexes from one original DNA duplex, ensuring genetic information is accurately passed from cell to cell and from generation to generation
. During replication, DNA polymerase reads the existing DNA strand and adds nucleotides to the 3' end of the newly forming strand, synthesizing DNA in the 5' to 3' direction. It requires a free 3' hydroxyl (OH) group to initiate synthesis, which is typically provided by an RNA primer laid down by another enzyme called primase. DNA polymerase then extends this primer to form the new DNA strand
. DNA polymerase also has high processivity, meaning it can add many nucleotides rapidly without dissociating from the DNA template, a feature enhanced by its interaction with sliding clamp proteins that help it stay attached to the DNA during replication
. In summary, DNA polymerase's main functions are:
- Catalyzing the addition of nucleotides to a growing DNA strand during replication.
- Ensuring the accurate copying of genetic information.
- Working in conjunction with other enzymes like helicase (which unwinds DNA) and primase (which provides RNA primers) to replicate the genome efficiently
This enzyme is essential for cell division and for maintaining the integrity of genetic information across generations.
