Question

Discuss the role of enzyme DNA ligase in DNA replication.

Answer 1

Hint: DNA replication is the process of the multiplication of the DNA. Several enzymes are required for the process of DNA replication. Moreover, enzyme DNA ligase ligates the Okazaki fragments.

Complete step by step answer: The enzyme DNA Ligase plays an important role in the process of DNA replication during the Elongation of the newly formed strands. The DNA-dependent DNA polymerase enzyme catalyzes the polymerization of the strands in only one direction that is from the 5’ end towards the 3’ end. Due to this, some unnecessary complications are created at the replication fork.
The replication is continuous at the template strand which has a polarity of 3’ to 5’. This template strand is known as the leading at the daughter strand. The replication is discontinuous on the template strand with the polarity 5’ to 3’. This template strand is known as the lagging daughter strand. The discontinuous fragments formed on the lagging daughter strand are known as the Okazaki fragments. These discontinuous strands of the DNA or the Okazaki fragments are later ligated by the help of the enzyme DNA ligase. DNA ligase binds these fragments to create one complete strand of the DNA.

Note: Whole DNA does not unwind together. The DNA is made up of stable Hydrogen bonding. Hydrogen bonds are weak bonds. Even then they require very large amounts of energy for their breaking, which is not possible to provide. Due to this reason, DNA unwinds in segments and for one strand it is continuous unwinding, whereas on the other stand discontinuous unwinding occurs and segments are created.