DNA Replication in Eukaryotes (points to remember)

🎀DNA replication in eukaryotes occurs during the S phase of the cell cycle.

🎀The replication of DNA is semiconservative in nature.

🎀DNA replication starts at specific sites called origins of replication.

🎀The enzyme responsible for unwinding DNA during replication is helicase.

🎀Single-strand binding proteins (SSBPs) stabilize the unwound DNA strands during replication.

🎀The enzyme primase synthesizes RNA primers that provide a starting point for DNA synthesis.

🎀DNA polymerase alpha (Pol α) is responsible for the synthesis of the RNA primers.

🎀DNA polymerase delta (Pol δ) is the primary enzyme responsible for synthesizing the leading strand during DNA replication.

🎀The lagging strand is synthesized in small fragments called Okazaki fragments.

🎀DNA polymerase epsilon (Pol ε) is responsible for synthesizing the leading strand during replication.

🎀The enzyme responsible for joining the Okazaki fragments is DNA ligase.

🎀Replication forks are the Y-shaped structures that form during DNA replication.

🎀DNA topoisomerase II is responsible for relieving the tension that builds up ahead of the replication fork.

🎀The sliding clamp protein PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) helps to hold the DNA polymerase onto the template strand during replication.

🎀Telomeres are the protective caps at the ends of linear chromosomes.

🎀Telomerase is an enzyme that extends the telomeres, which otherwise shorten with each round of cell division.

🎀Mutations in genes involved in DNA replication can lead to diseases such as cancer.

🎀The MCM complex (minichromosome maintenance) is a group of proteins that are necessary for the initiation of DNA replication.

🎀The replication checkpoint ensures that DNA replication is completed accurately before the cell progresses into the next phase of the cell cycle.

🎀The GINS complex (go-ichi-nii-san) is a protein complex that is necessary for the elongation phase of DNA replication.

🎀The Cdc45 protein is required for the assembly of the replication fork.

🎀The ORC complex (origin recognition complex) recognizes and binds to the origins of replication to initiate DNA replication.

🎀The DNA replication machinery moves in both directions away from the origin of replication.

🎀The nucleosome, made up of DNA wrapped around histone proteins, must be temporarily disassembled during DNA replication.

🎀The proofreading activity of DNA polymerase helps to maintain the accuracy of DNA replication.

🎀The DNA damage response pathway can repair errors that occur during DNA replication.

🎀The replisome is the complex of enzymes and proteins that carry out DNA replication.

🎀The RFC complex (replication factor C) is responsible for loading the sliding clamp onto the DNA.

🎀The TIPIN protein is involved in the stabilization of DNA replication forks.

🎀DNA replication is a highly regulated process that ensures the faithful transmission of genetic information from one generation of cells to the next.