Question

What role does primase play in DNA replication?

Answer 1

Every enzymes have an importance during the replication. Primase helps in the synthesis of primer at the leading and lagging strand of DNA. There is formed single primer on the leading strand and multiple primers on the lagging strand.

The primers provides the 3' Hydroxyl end for addition of new nucelotide in the newly synthesised strand. Because the hydroxyl end of primer and phosphate of newly nucleotide leads to phosphodiester bond formation. In this way primers will provide the starting point for DNA synthesis.

There is found single primer on leading strand and leads to continuous synthesis of DNA.

But there is found multiple primers on lagging strand which leads to the okazaki fragments on lagging strand.

If primase enzyme is mutated, then there will be no DNA replication occurs because there will be not any primer found and there will be no addition of nucleotide occur on primer.