Rolling circle replication
Rolling Circle Replication
Rolling circle replication (pronunciation: roh-ling ser-kul reh-pli-kay-shun) is a process of unidirectional nucleic acid replication that can rapidly synthesize multiple copies of circular molecules of DNA or RNA, such as plasmids, the genomes of bacteriophages, and the circular RNA genome of viroids.
Etymology
The term "rolling circle" refers to the mechanism by which the replication occurs, where the circular DNA molecule "rolls" as it synthesizes a new strand of DNA.
Process
The process begins when a specific enzyme, known as endonuclease, creates a nick in one strand of the circular DNA molecule. This nick provides a 3'-OH group that can be extended by DNA polymerase, which adds nucleotides to the 3' end of the DNA strand. As the DNA polymerase progresses around the circular DNA template, the newly synthesized DNA strand is displaced, forming a "tail". This tail can be used as a template for DNA replication by another DNA polymerase molecule, resulting in the formation of a double-stranded DNA molecule.
Related Terms
- Endonuclease: An enzyme that cleaves the phosphodiester bond within a polynucleotide chain.
- DNA polymerase: An enzyme assisting in DNA replication.
- Nucleic acid: A complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA.
- DNA replication: The process by which a double-stranded DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rolling circle replication
- Wikipedia's article - Rolling circle replication
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