DNA Replication
By
Hamida Mohammed Amer
Student Objectives
• Students will understand how DNA
pairs with specific bases and the
process of DNA replication.
• Students will comprehend the
importance of checking for errors
I. DNA Structure
• A) Double helix held together by
weak hydrogen bonds
• B) Nucleotides
– 1. Subunits that make up DNA
– 2. Made of 3 components
• A) phosphate group
• B) deoxyribose = 5-carbon sugar
• C) nitrogen containing base
I. DNA Structure
• C) Four nitrogen bases
– 1. Purines
• A) Adenine
• B) Guanine
– 2. Pyrimidines
• A) Thiamine
• B) Cytosine
DNA replication
• In the process of DNA replication, the DNA makes
multiple copies of itself. It is a biological polymerisation,
which proceeds in the sequence of initiation, elongation,
and termination. It is an enzyme-catalysed reaction.
DNA Polymerase is the main enzyme in the replication
process.
Origin of replication in Prokaryotes
• For the replication to begin there is a particular
region called the origin of replication. This is
the point where the replication originates.
Replication begins with the spotting of this
origin followed by the unwinding of the two
DNA strands.
Origin of replication in Eukaryotes
• The DNA replication in eukaryotes is similar to
the DNA replication in prokaryotes.
• The initiation process is more complex in
eukaryotes than prokaryotes. In eukaryotes,
there are multiple origins of replication present.
A pre-replication complex is made with other
initiator proteins.
Why does DNA replicate?
Cells copy genetic information before cell division so that
each new cell has a complete set of DNA
DNA Template
How does DNA replicate?
1) Topoisomerases are enzymes that
remove supercoiling at the replication fork
by introducing cuts in DNA strands
2) UNZIP: DNA Helicase “unzips” the
strands of DNA breaking the hydrogen bonds, creating
two template (parent) strands for replication
3) HOLD OPEN: Single-Strand Binding proteins
(SSBs) keep strands separated
4) BASE PAIRING: DNA polymerase III bonds
free nucleotides with nucleotides on each template (parent)
strand using base pairing rules
5) PROOFREAD:
DNA Polymerase I proofreads new strands
and backtracks to correct errors
–6) JOINING NUCLEOTIDES: DNA ligase
bonds backbone together.
–
Replication Results
• 2 identical DNA
molecules, each w/1 new
strand & 1 old strand
• Called Semi-
conservative replication
–Leading Strand
–Nucleotides are added
in the SAME direction
as the replication fork,
creating a continuous
leading strand
–Replication Fork
–Replication Fork
–Lagging Strand
–Nucleotides added in the
opposite direction as the
replication fork create
Okazaki fragments on
lagging strand
–Okazaki Fragments
• Replication Fork ~ Directional movement of replication
• Polymerase III only works in 5’ to 3’ direction on BOTH
parent strands
• This creates continuous replication on the LEADING
strand
• And Okazaki fragments on the LAGGING strand
are joined together by DNA ligase
DNA Replication
• A) Step 1 = double helix unwinds
– 1. DNA Helicase
• A) an enzyme that breaks apart the hydrogen bonds
– 2. Hydrogen Bond
• A) these bonds hold nucleotides together
– 3. Proteins
• A) attach to the strands to keep the bonds from
reforming
– 4. Replication Forks
• A) two areas where the DNA opens up to allow
replication to occur
DNA Replication
• B) Step 2 = nucleotides are
added
– 1. DNA Polymerase
• A) enzyme that moves along each
strand adding nucleotides
DNA Replication
• C) Step 3 = 2 strands of DNA are
formed
– 1. Enzyme
• A) DNA Polymerase remains attached until all
of the DNA is replicated
– 2. New DNA
• A) once process is completed, 2 new strands
are completed
– 3. Nucleotide Sequence
• A) identical sequences are present on both
strands
Checking for Errors
• A) Proofreading
– 1. The Polymerase can only add a
nucleotide if the previous one was
correctly placed
• B) Backtracking
– 1. DNA can go back and remove the
incorrect nucleotide and replace it with
the correct one
