

DNA
REPLICATION

SUBMITED BY:


INTRODUCTION
DNA replication is a fundamental biological
process that allows cells to create identical
copies of their DNA. This process is crucial for
the inheritance of genetic information from
one generation of cells to the next during cell
division, as well as for repairing damaged
DNA.

STRUCTURE OF DNA
 

Its structure is often described as a double helix, which

consists of two long chains of nucleotides coiled around
each other. Here's a more detailed explanation of the
structure of DNA:

Nucleotides: The basic building blocks of DNA are nucleotides. Each nucleotide
consists of three components:
 Phosphate Group: A phosphate group forms the backbone of the DNA
molecule, providing structural stability.
 Deoxyribose Sugar: Deoxyribose is a five-carbon sugar that alternates
with the phosphate groups to create the sugar-phosphate backbone of
the DNA strand.
 Nitrogenous Base: There are four types of nitrogenous bases in DNA:
adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These bases are
the key to encoding genetic information. Adenine pairs with thymine, and
cytosine pairs with guanine in a complementary manner.

Base Pairing: The DNA strands are antiparallel, meaning they run in
opposite directions. The nitrogenous bases on one strand form
hydrogen bonds with complementary bases on the other strand. This
base pairing is specific: adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T), and
cytosine (C) always pairs with guanine (G). This complementary base
pairing ensures that the two strands fit together perfectly, like a zipper.
.
Double Helix: The two nucleotide chains wind around each other to
form a double helix. The sugar-phosphate backbones run along the
outside of the helix, while the paired nitrogenous bases form the
"rungs" of the helical ladder.
.
Base Sequence: The sequence of nitrogenous bases along each
strand of DNA encodes the genetic information. Genes are specific
sequences of these bases that carry instructions for making proteins,
which are essential for the structure and function of cells.
.
 

STEPS
OFDNAREPLICATION:
.

Initiation: DNA replication begins at specific sites in the DNA molecule

called origins of replication. In most organisms, including humans, there are
multiple origins of replication along the DNA molecule. These regions are
recognized by initiator proteins, which bind to the DNA and mark the starting
point for replication.
.
.
Unwinding: The double-stranded DNA molecule is unwound and separated
into two single strands. This separation is facilitated by an enzyme called
helicase, which breaks the hydrogen bonds between complementary base
pairs.
.
.
Primer Synthesis: Before DNA polymerase can start synthesizing new
DNA strands, a short RNA primer is synthesized by an enzyme called primase.
This primer provides a 3'-OH group to which DNA polymerase can add
nucleotides.
.
.
Elongation: DNA polymerase enzymes synthesize new DNA strands by
adding complementary nucleotides to the template strands. DNA polymerases
can only add nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction, so they can only elongate
the new strand in the 5' to 3' direction. Since the two strands of DNA are
antiparallel (run in opposite directions), the leading strand is synthesized
continuously, while the lagging strand is synthesized in short fragments called
Okazaki fragments. DNA polymerase III is the primary enzyme responsible for
adding nucleotides, while DNA polymerase I removes the RNA primer and fills
the gap with DNA.
.
.
Proofreading: DNA polymerases have a proofreading mechanism to correct
errors that may occur during DNA replication. If a mismatched base pair is
added, the polymerase can remove the incorrect nucleotide and replace it
with the correct one.
 

.
.
Termination: DNA replication is terminated when the entire DNA molecule
has been copied. In circular DNA molecules, such as in prokaryotes (bacteria),
replication is bidirectional, and termination occurs when the two replication
forks meet on the opposite side of the circular molecule. In linear DNA
molecules, like in eukaryotes, the ends of the linear chromosomes pose a
challenge, and specialized mechanisms, such as telomeres, are involved in
ensuring complete replication.
.
.
Ligase Activity: After the Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand have
been synthesized, another enzyme called DNA ligase joins the fragments
together by catalyzing the formation of phosphodiester bonds between
adjacent nucleotides.
.
.
Supercoiling and Packaging: Once the DNA has been replicated, it
needs to be properly coiled, condensed, and organized into chromatin, which
is the complex of DNA and proteins (histones) that make up chromosomes in
eukaryotic cells. This supercoiling and packaging help ensure that the DNA is
stored efficiently within the cell nucleus


FATHER OF DNA
REPLICATION
Arthur Kornberg, a prolific researcher
who described his career as a “love affair
with enzymes,” discovered DNA
polymerase, an enzyme critical to DNA
replication. For his discovery, Kornberg
shared the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine with Severo Ochoa, who
discovered RNA polymerase.


SEMI CONSERVATIVE
METHOD(E.coli)


References
https://biologydictionary.net

http://www.nature.com

https://www.wikipedia.org


THANK YOU