DNA polymerase

DNA polymerase is an enzyme that synthesizes DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. These enzymes are essential for DNA replication and usually work in pairs to create two identical DNA strands from one original DNA molecule.

Function

During the process of DNA replication, DNA polymerase adds new deoxyribonucleotides to the 3' end of a DNA strand. This process occurs in the 5' to 3' direction, meaning that DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides to the 3' end of the DNA strand.

Types

There are several types of DNA polymerase that play a role in DNA replication:

• DNA polymerase I - This enzyme removes the RNA primer (which starts the DNA synthesis) and replaces it with DNA.
• DNA polymerase II - This enzyme is involved in the process of DNA repair.
• DNA polymerase III - This is the main enzyme involved in DNA replication.

Role in DNA Repair

DNA polymerase also plays a crucial role in DNA repair. When DNA is damaged, it can cause errors in the DNA sequence. DNA polymerase can recognize these errors and replace the incorrect nucleotides with the correct ones.

Inhibitors

Certain drugs, known as DNA polymerase inhibitors, can inhibit the function of DNA polymerase. These drugs are often used in the treatment of cancer and viral infections.

See Also

• DNA replication
• DNA repair
• DNA polymerase inhibitors

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