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why does a dna strand grow only in the 5 to 3 direction

by Dr. Kasey Glover II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Answer and Explanation: A new DNA strand only grows in the 5' to 3' direction because the enzyme that adds new bases to a growing strand requires a free 3' OH group. Click to see full answer. Keeping this in consideration, why does DNA synthesis only proceed in the 5 to 3 direction?

DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the 3' OH group of the growing DNA strand, this is why DNA replication occurs only in the 5' to 3' direction. The 5′-phosphate group of the new deoxyribonucleotide binds to the 3′-OH group of the last deoxyribonucleotide of the growing strand.

Full Answer

Why does a strand grow only in the 5 to 3 direction?

Why does a DNA strand grow only in the 5 to 3 direction? Answer and Explanation: A new DNA strand only grows in the 5' to 3' direction because the enzyme that adds new bases to a growing strand requires a free 3' OH group. Click to see full answer.

Why does DNA replication go in the 5' to 3' direction?

These fragments are processed by the replication machinery to produce a continuous strand of DNA and hence a complete daughter DNA helix. DNA replication goes in the 5' to 3' direction because DNA polymerase acts on the 3'-OH of the existing strand for adding free nucleotides.

Why does synthesis of DNA proceed only in the 5'to 3'direction?

Why does synthesis of DNA proceed only in the 5′to 3′direction? A DNA polymerases can only add nucleotides to the 3′end of a polynucleotide strand.

Why are nucleotides added in the 5 to 3 direction?

Hence, DNA polymerase moves along the template strand in a 3'–5' direction, and the daughter strand is formed in a 5'–3' direction. why are nucleotides added in the 5 to 3 direction quizlet?

Where is the 5′ end of a DNA ladder?

technically it isn’t….if you have a double stranded DNA ladder the 5′ end is at the top of the left strand and the 3′ end is at the top of the right strand - called antiparallel

Which way does the chain grow?

The long part still has the same orientation—5′ to the left, 3′ to the right, but now we are doing the addition on the LEFT side, so the chain would be growing toward the 5′ direction —the reverse of what we actually observe.

How does the phosphodiester bond form?

the energy for the formation of the phosphodiester bond comes from the dNTP, which has to be added. dNTP is a nucleotide which has two additional phosphates attached to its 5' end. In order to join the 3'OH group with the phosphate of the next nucleotide, one oxygen has to be removed from this phosphate group. This oxygen is also attached to two extra phosphates, which are also attached to a Mg++. Mg++ pulls up the electrons of the oxygen, which weakens this bond and the so called nucleophilic attack of the oxygen from the 3'OH succeeds, thus forming the phospodiester bond.

What happens if you join the dNTP to the phosphate?

If you try to join the dNTP's 3'OH group to the 5' phosphate of the next nucleotide, there won't be enough energy to weaken the bond between the oxygen connected to the 5' phosphorous (the other two phosphates of the dNTP are on the 5' end, not on the 3' end), which makes the nucleophilic attack harder because there is no good leaving group to allow this to happen.

Why can't we make a 3–5 polymerase?

Once you have a functioning polymerase there is no evolutionary incentive to make the other one for the other direction. Evolution works by making incremental changes to what already exists and polymerases are so important that the process of switching from a 5–3 polymerase to a 3–5 polymerase would almost definitely be worse for many generations.

Which end of the nucleotide does the joining reaction occur?

It’s absolutely correct that the nucleotides that we have possess triphosphates on their 5′ end and the joining reaction is between the 3′ end of the existing nucleotide and occurs via attack of the innermost (‘alpha’) phosphate of the incoming nucleotide.

Why do biologists write sequences out 5′-3′?

As a convention, biologists write sequences out 5′-3′ because, when we are writing out a coding sequence, the bases from left-to-right are in the order that they are read by polymerases (5′-3′). For example, if you download the sequence of a reference transcript from NCBI or Ensembl, it will always be written in the 5′-3′ direction. 158 views. ·. ...

How many base pairs are there in a DNA helix?

If the distance between two consecutive base pairs is 0.34nmand the total number of base pairs of a DNA double helix in a typical mammalian cell is 6.6×109bp, then the length of the DNA is approximately

How many OH groups does DNA polymerase need?

DNA polymerases require 3' OH group for the initiation of synthesis of DNA strand. Therefore, it can synthesize in only one direction by extending the 3' end of the pre-existing nucleotide chain. Hence, DNA polymerase moves along the template strand in 3' - 5' direction and the daughter strand is formed in a 5' - 3' direction.

What enzyme is responsible for synthesis of DNA?

DNA polymerase enzyme helps in the synthesis of DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. They are essential for DNA replication and usually works in a pair to create identical DNA strands. DNA polymerases require 3' OH group for the initiation of synthesis of DNA strand. Therefore, it can synthesize in only one direction ...

Which end of a polynucleotide is more electronegative than the 5 end?

The 3′end of the polynucleotide molecule is more electronegative than the 5′end.

Can DNA polymerases add nucleotides to the 3′ end of a polynucle?

So, the correct option is 'DNA polymerases can only add nucleotides to the 3′ end of a polynucleotide strand'.

Why does DNA replication go in the 5' to 3' direction?

DNA replication goes in the 5' to 3' direction because DNA polymerase acts on the 3'-OH of the existing strand for adding free nucleotides. Is there any biochemical reason why all organisms evolved to go from 5' to 3'?

How does DNA replication gain energy?

DNA replications needs a source of energy to proceed, this energy is gained by cleaving the 5'-triphosphate of the nucleotide that is added to the existing DNA chain. Any alternative polymerase mechanism needs to account for the source of the energy required for adding a nucleotide. The simplest way one can imagine to perform reverse 3'-5' ...

How does the phosphodiester bond form?

Briefly, the energy for the formation of the phosphodiester bond comes from the dNTP, which has to be added. dNTP is a nucleotide which has two additional phosphates attached to its 5' end. In order to join the 3'OH group with the phosphate of the next nucleotide, one oxygen has to be removed from this phosphate group. This oxygen is also attached to two extra phosphates, which are also attached to a Mg++. Mg++ pulls up the electrons of the oxygen, which weakens this bond and the so called nucleophilic attack of the oxygen from the 3'OH succeeds, thus forming the phospodiester bond.

What is the difference between 5'->3' and 3'->5'?

Actually, the only difference between the two routes (5'->3' and 3'->5') is that the reacting triphosphate appears in different places. In the usual case, the triphosphate which is hydrolysed belongs to the added nucleotide, while in the latter case, the triphosphate which is hydrolysed belongs to the nucleotide on the growing strand.

What happens if you join the dNTP to the phosphate?

If you try to join the dNTP's 3'OH group to the 5' phosphate of the next nucleotide, there won't be enough energy to weaken the bond between the oxygen connected to the 5' phosphorous (the other two phosphates of the dNTP are on the 5' end, not on the 3' end), which makes the nucleophilic attack harder.

Which polymerase catalyzes 3' - 5' elongation?

Actually there is a polymerase that catalyzes 3' - 5' elongation. See for example the Thg1 superfamily. "Doing it in reverse: 3'-to-5' polymerization by the Thg1 superfamily." Jackman, et al.

Does RNA polymerase have proofreading?

In fact, it is known that RNA polymerase has dual activity, but you see, RNA polymerase doesn't have proofreading activity!. Proofreading requires removal of the mismatched base, but in the 3'->5 direction the base's attachment had consumed the triphosphate at the 5' tip of the strand, so it is no longer available to add the replacement base. 3'->5' activity readily destroys proofreading capability of a polymerase So, basically, it is the need for proofreading that restricts the synthesis of DNA strands to 5'->3'. Why it is so, would need a lot more explanation (if in words) but I think a picture has far better explanatory power than a thousand words. I've added a picture from Essential Cell Biology that shows the answer to the 'WHY' question:

Why do DNA strands have to be made in different ways?

D- Because the two strands of parental DNA run in opposite directions, the new strands must be made in different ways.

How many new DNA strands are formed in a single strand?

A. results in the formation of four new DNA strands.

What is the function of DNA ligase?

A. DNA ligase replicates the new strand. DNA polymerase then proofreads the strand and makes any necessary corrections.

What is the lagging strand?

A. The lagging strand is one of the strands of parental DNA.

Which strand is built continuously?

C. The leading strand is built continuously, and the lagging strand is built in pieces.

Which is smaller, eukaryotic or prokaryotic DNA?

A. Prokaryotic D NA is much smaller than eukaryotic DNA.

Which enzyme forms daughter molecules?

D. DNA polymerase forms daughter molecules adding bases on the 5' ends. Ligase then links these molecules together, forming the new daughter strand. A. Prokaryotic organisms have a single origin of replication, whereas eukaryotic organisms have many origins where replication occurs simultaneously.

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