Okazaki fragments
Okazaki Fragments
Okazaki fragments (pronounced: oh-kah-zah-kee fragments) are short, newly synthesized DNA fragments that are formed on the lagging template strand during DNA replication. They are named after the Japanese scientist Reiji Okazaki, who first discovered them.
Etymology
The term "Okazaki fragments" is derived from the name of the Japanese scientist Reiji Okazaki, who, along with his wife Tsuneko Okazaki, discovered these fragments in 1968. The word "fragment" comes from the Latin fragmentum, meaning "a broken piece or a part of something."
Description
During DNA replication, the DNA polymerase can only add nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction. On the leading strand, replication is continuous, while on the lagging strand it is discontinuous, forming these short Okazaki fragments. These fragments are later joined together by the enzyme DNA ligase to create the continuous complementary strand.
Related Terms
- DNA replication: The process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules.
- DNA polymerase: An enzyme that synthesizes DNA molecules from deoxyribonucleotides, the building blocks of DNA.
- DNA ligase: An enzyme that facilitates the joining of DNA strands together by catalyzing the formation of a phosphodiester bond.
- Leading strand: The DNA strand that is synthesized continuously during replication.
- Lagging strand: The DNA strand that is synthesized in short fragments during replication.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Okazaki fragments
- Wikipedia's article - Okazaki fragments
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