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What does it mean to say DNA polymerase reads a template strand to make the complementary strand?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
During DNA replication, the enzyme DNA polymerase catalyses the formation of new strands of DNA, using the old strands as models. DNA has a double-helix structure, with two strands forming each helix. Each strand is made up of DNA nucleotides, with the genetic information encoded in the sequence of different nucleotides (different nucleotides are distinguished by molecules called 'bases' attached to them, so the sequence of nucleotides is known as the 'base sequence').
The base sequence of one strand is complementary to that of its' neighbour - the base A binds with T, and C with G, so if one strand had the sequence ATTACA, the base sequence of the complementary strand would be TAATGT.
When DNA polymerase creates a new DNA strand, it does so by matching nucleotides to the base sequence of one of the strands - the template strand. New nucleotides are brought in, which match the template in a complementary fashion (ie. A-T, C-G), and join to become one new strand. This new strand is complementary to the template.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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What is a polymerase commonly used for?
Polymerase are best know for their role in DNA and RNA replication. The polymerase reads the DNA or RNA strand as a template to synthesize a new strand.
In which direction does RNA polymerase read a DNA strand?
The correct answer is: RNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase that reads one strand of DNA. RNA polymerase reads DNA 3' to 5'. When RNA is made, it is made 5' to 3'. Most polymerases have the 3' to 5' "reading" activity. The created RNA strand is identical to the coding strand of DNA, which is also in the orientation of 5' to 3'.
What is the non template strand?
The difference between the coding strand and the template strand is the coding strand is the strand which contains the coding genes, i.e. the one in which the RNA polymerase reads and transcribes into mRNA. It must have the promoter sequence in the correct orientation for transcription, as follows:5`-TATAATGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGC-3`3`-ATATTACGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCG-5`In this sequence, the top strand is the coding strand, because it contains the promoter (TATAAT) in the correct orientation.However, when transcribed, the mRNA will be as follows:5`-GCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGC-3`This is because the polymerase transcribes from the template strand, on the opposide side to the coding strand, to make it in the same orientation as the coding strand.I hope I have explained it enough for people to understand, however if I haven't please read this article I found which explains it thoroughly:http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/bioforum/1994-May/008821.html
Explain the role of RNA polymerase in mRNA sythesis?
During transcription, RNA Polymerase binds with upstream of the gene that is to be transcribed into mRNA. This causes the double helix shape of the DNA to unwind. Then, RNA Polymerase uses the template strand of the DNA as guide and synthesizes a complementary mRNA strand using ribonucleotides. Basically, without RNA Polymerase, mRNA would not be synthesized.
How do polymerase create new strands of DNA?
DNA helicase is the main enzyme responsible for splitting the two strands of DNA (or 'unzipping' the DNA). This allows DNA polymerase to come along and copy the DNA, by joining free nucleotides (A, T, C, G) to the template strand of DNA. This is how a new strand of DNA is created.
What is a polymerase commonly used for?
Polymerase are best know for their role in DNA and RNA replication. The polymerase reads the DNA or RNA strand as a template to synthesize a new strand.
What is the role of DNA Polymerase and when during the cell life cycle is it most active?
during cell division /.....IM POSITIVE The person who wrote the above answer is actually very wrong. Though they claim to be "POSITIVE" their self assurance is not worth much when they don't know what they are talking about. DNA Polymerase's role is in DNA replication. DNA Polymerase is an enzyme that essentially "reads" an intact DNA strand as a template and uses it to synthesize the new strand. This process copies a piece of DNA. The newly-polymerized molecule is complementary to the template strand and identical to the template's original partner strand. This process occurs mostly in S Phase of the cell cycle. During S Phase DNA and centrosomes are replicated in order to provide the cell with duplicates needed to divide in mitosis. DNA Polymerase is not really used in mitosis, as the previous respondent said, rather it is used during S Phase to copy and duplicate the DNA of a cell.
In which direction does RNA polymerase read a DNA strand?
The correct answer is: RNA is synthesized by RNA polymerase that reads one strand of DNA. RNA polymerase reads DNA 3' to 5'. When RNA is made, it is made 5' to 3'. Most polymerases have the 3' to 5' "reading" activity. The created RNA strand is identical to the coding strand of DNA, which is also in the orientation of 5' to 3'.
The first stage of gene expression is called?
The first stage of gene expression is known as transcription. This is the process by which RNA Polymerase, along with other transcription factors, reads and transcribes the DNA sequence into a complementary RNA strand.
What is the non template strand?
The difference between the coding strand and the template strand is the coding strand is the strand which contains the coding genes, i.e. the one in which the RNA polymerase reads and transcribes into mRNA. It must have the promoter sequence in the correct orientation for transcription, as follows:5`-TATAATGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGC-3`3`-ATATTACGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCG-5`In this sequence, the top strand is the coding strand, because it contains the promoter (TATAAT) in the correct orientation.However, when transcribed, the mRNA will be as follows:5`-GCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGCGC-3`This is because the polymerase transcribes from the template strand, on the opposide side to the coding strand, to make it in the same orientation as the coding strand.I hope I have explained it enough for people to understand, however if I haven't please read this article I found which explains it thoroughly:http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/bioforum/1994-May/008821.html
Explain the role of RNA polymerase in mRNA sythesis?
During transcription, RNA Polymerase binds with upstream of the gene that is to be transcribed into mRNA. This causes the double helix shape of the DNA to unwind. Then, RNA Polymerase uses the template strand of the DNA as guide and synthesizes a complementary mRNA strand using ribonucleotides. Basically, without RNA Polymerase, mRNA would not be synthesized.
An enzyme that reads along a sequence of bases in DNA making a complementary sequence of nucleotide bases in RNA is?
RNA Polymerase.
How do polymerase create new strands of DNA?
DNA helicase is the main enzyme responsible for splitting the two strands of DNA (or 'unzipping' the DNA). This allows DNA polymerase to come along and copy the DNA, by joining free nucleotides (A, T, C, G) to the template strand of DNA. This is how a new strand of DNA is created.
What type of DNA molecule forms as a result o DNA replication?
During DNA replication the two strands of the DNA helix split apart and the ribosome reads off the template strand producing an exact copy of this strand. Then RNA polymerase base pairs both of the strands, producing 2 semi-conservative strands.
During DNA replication DNA is split apart into two strands as the new DNA strands are created what is the function of DNA polymerase?
The polymerase itself does not separate the DNA strands. Helicase (another enzyme, sometimes found in complex with a polymerase holoenzyme) does the separating for it, ahead of the replication fork.
If a sequence on one DNA strand reads A-T-C-C-T-G-C-A what will the complementary strand sequence read?
It would be T-A-A-G-C-C
What is replication forks?
A replication fork is the mechanism by which a strand of DNA is synthesized. If you can imagine a strand of DNA unwound, then it would resemble a ladder. Unzip the DNA and it now looks like a fork, ie fork in road, not eating fork. There is a Leading strand, which is synthesised easily. USing DNA polymerase which 'reads' along the strand in the 3' to 5' direction on the strand, producing a replication strand in the 5' to 3' direction. The opposite strand is called the lagging strand, and this is slightly more complicated. DNA polymerase cannot read in the 5' to 3' direction on the template strand. Thus DNA primase is used to read the strand and replicate small RNA segments, called Okazaki fragments. The lagging strand has no been copied into many small strands of RNA, or Okazaki fragments. Next DNA polymerase comes along and replaces all the RNA nucleotides with DNA nucleotides. ANd finally DNA ligase 'stitches' all the small fragments into one long strand.
