Final answer:
The enzyme that catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds during DNA synthesis in prokaryotes is DNA polymerase, particularly DNA pol III, which is crucial for replication.
Step-by-step explanation:
In prokaryotes, the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of phosphodiester bonds during DNA synthesis is known as DNA polymerase. DNA polymerases are crucial for replication as they add nucleotides to the 3'-OH end of the growing DNA chain, using the nucleotide triphosphate's energy. In bacteria, there are three main types of DNA polymerases: DNA pol I, DNA pol II, and DNA pol III, of which DNA pol III is primarily responsible for DNA synthesis, and the others are involved in DNA repair processes.