Fill in the Blank QuestionFill in the blank question.The enzyme DNA covalently links nucleotides to synthesize new DNA strands together during DNA replication.

Which enzyme covalently links nucleotides together?

An enzyme that makes covalent bonds between nucleotide sequences in DNA isGroup of answer choicesRNA polymerase.DNA ligaseDNA helicase.transposase.DNA polymerase.

DNA polymerization is one of the most conserved mechanisms of genome replication.  Synthesis of a complete DNA strand requires a template, primers, a polymerase enzyme, and sufficient deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs).  The DNA polymerase enzyme binds consecutive base pairs on the template strand and extends the double helix by adding dNTPs to the primer.  The amino acid residues in the active site of DNA polymerase form hydrogen bonds with Watson-Crick donors and acceptors on incoming DNA nucleotides to facilitate base pairing.The formation of the DNA double helix creates opposing changes in entropy and enthalpy.  Favorable bonding interactions via hydrogen bonds during Watson-Crick base pairing results in negative enthalpy, and restricted rotation and flexibility of the DNA backbone generates negative entropy.  Scientists hypothesize that hydrogen bonding between bases not only stabilizes the double helix but is also crucial for selective and efficient replication.Analogs that are similar in size and shape to naturally occurring bases can be used to determine the influence of hydrogen bonding on base pair selectivity.  To mimic the structure of deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP), researchers synthesized dNTP derivatives of difluorotoluene (dFTP).  dFTP is a nonpolar analog of dTTP that lacks Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding.  Klenow fragment polymerase (KF), which has 3′-5′ but not 5′-3′ exonuclease activity, was incubated with a mixture of DNA template, primers, and dNTPs, including dFTP.  The efficiency of dFTP and natural dTTP nucleotide incorporation into a growing primer strand by KF is shown in Figure 1.Figure 1  Template-specific selection of dFTP and dTTP by the KF enzymeAdapted from Moran S, Ren RX, Kool ET. A thymidine triphosphate shape analog lacking Watson-Crick pairing ability is replicated with high sequence selectivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1997;94(20):10506-11. Question 44The Klenow fragment used in the experiment would be able to perform which of the following repair processes?A.Correction of mismatched nucleotides in the middle of a completed strandB.Replacement of nucleotides at the 3′ end of the growing strandC.Excision of thymine dimers at the 5′ end of the growing strandD.Removal of damaged bases from the middle of the template strand

Which reaction in DNA replication is catalysed by DNA ligase?Group of answer choicesFormation of a phosphodiester linkage between two Okazaki fragmentsProof reading the template strand for errorsBase pairing of the template to the newly synthesised strandAddition of nucleotides to the lagging strand

During DNA replication:Ligase replaces RNA primers with DNA nucleotides.DNA polymerase III pairs Guanine with Cytosine.DNA polymerase I pairs Adenine with Cytosine.Okazaki fragments are created on the leading strand.