In: Biology
During DNA replication, which of the following processes occurs in the 3' to 5' direction? explain
Excision of RNA primers
Proofreading by DNA polymerase
Lagging strand DNA synthesis
Proofreading is the activity which occures from 3' to 5'. Proofreading is the process of checking the errors in the replicated DNA strands which is a very important activity. Proofreading starts from the place where the replication stopped and continues in oppsite direction. Uncorrected mistakes may sometimes lead to serious consequences, such as cancer. Repair mechanisms correct the mistakes according to the proofreading activuty. In rare cases, mistakes are not corrected, leading to mutations; in other cases, repair enzymes are themselves mutated or defective.
DNA polymerase reads the newly added base before adding the next one, so a correction can be made. The polymerase checks whether the newly added base has paired correctly with the base in the template strand. If it is the right base, the next nucleotide is added. If an incorrect base has been added, the enzyme makes a cut at the phosphodiester bond and releases the wrong nucleotide. This is performed by the exonuclease action of DNA pol III. Once the incorrect nucleotide has been removed, a new one will be added again.