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Where would the enzyme topoisomerase attach during dna replication?

Where would the enzyme topoisomerase attach during dna replication?-example-1
User Jay Zamsol
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Final answer:

During DNA replication, topoisomerase attaches to the DNA ahead of the replication fork to alleviate supercoiling by cutting and rejoining the DNA's phosphate backbone.

Step-by-step explanation:

The enzyme topoisomerase plays a crucial role during DNA replication by managing the tension caused by the unwinding of the DNA double helix. During replication, as the helicase separates the DNA strands at the origin of replication, this action leads to an increase in tension and results in supercoiling of the DNA ahead of the replication fork. Topoisomerase attaches to the DNA and alleviates this supercoiling by cutting and subsequently rejoining the DNA's phosphate backbone, thereby preventing the helix from becoming overly coiled which could interfere with the process of replication.

User KevinHu
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When DNA replication occurs, the DNA strand is being unwound, causing the DNA to be overwound tightly past the replication fork.
For example, If you have ever wrapped two strings around each other and then tried to pull part the middle of the string while holding the ends tight, the rest of the string past the place you're pulling the string apart becomes very tight and strained.

Topoisomerase is an enzyme that binds to the DNA and helps release some of that strain by unwinding the DNA past the replication fork.

That means the correct box is the leftmost one. Hope this helps:)
User Yulanggong
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