Dna Replication Fork

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 More General Terms 3 Additional Terms 4 References

Introduction

• The site at which DNA synthesis occurs. The fork is formed from unwinding of the original or template strands with synthesis of complementary DNA on the 2 template strands to form 2 double-stranded DNA molecules. Because DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA in the 5' to 3' direction, DNA synthesis on the 2 DNA strands at the replication fork differs. The leading strand is synthesized continuously, whereas the lagging strand is synthesized in fragments ( Okazaki fragments) which are then ligated to created the appearance of chain elongation in the 3' to 5' direction.

More General Terms

• biochemistry

Additional Terms

• DNA replication

References

Biochemistry, L. Stryer, WH Freeman & Co, New York, 1988 pg 671

DNA replication fork