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| In ], the '''lagging strand''' is the ] strand at the opposite side of the ] from the ]. It goes from 5' to 3' (these numbers indicate the position of the ] in respect to the ] atoms it contains). | In ], the '''lagging strand''' is the ] strand at the opposite side of the ] from the ]. It goes from 5' to 3' (these numbers indicate the position of the ] in respect to the ] atoms it contains). | ||
| When replicating, the original |
When replicating, the original DNA splits in two, forming two "prongs" which resemble a fork (i.e. the "]"). DNA has a ladder-like structure; imagine a ladder broken in half vertically, along the steps. Each half of the ladder now requires a new half to match it. | ||
| ], the main ] enzyme, can not work in the 5' - 3' direction, and so replication of the lagging strand is more complicated than of the ]. On the leading strand, Pol III "reads" the DNA and adds ] to it continuously. | ], the main ] enzyme, can not work in the 5' - 3' direction, and so replication of the lagging strand is more complicated than of the ]. On the leading strand, Pol III "reads" the DNA and adds ] to it continuously. | ||
Revision as of 20:18, 5 October 2006
In DNA replication, the lagging strand is the DNA strand at the opposite side of the replication fork from the leading strand. It goes from 5' to 3' (these numbers indicate the position of the molecule in respect to the carbon atoms it contains).
When replicating, the original DNA splits in two, forming two "prongs" which resemble a fork (i.e. the "replication fork"). DNA has a ladder-like structure; imagine a ladder broken in half vertically, along the steps. Each half of the ladder now requires a new half to match it.
Pol III, the main DNA replication enzyme, can not work in the 5' - 3' direction, and so replication of the lagging strand is more complicated than of the leading strand. On the leading strand, Pol III "reads" the DNA and adds nucleotides to it continuously.
On the lagging strand, primase "reads" the DNA and adds RNA to it in short bursts. Pol III lengthens the bursts, forming Okazaki fragments. Pol I then "reads" the fragments, removes the RNA, and adds its own nucleotides (this is necessary because RNA and DNA use slightly different kinds of nucleotides). DNA ligase joins the fragments together.