Question

The RNA polymerase synthesizing short RNA primers for initiation Okazaki fragments is called _____________

-primase

-ligase

-primer

-primerase

-RNA polymerase III

Answer 1

Primase is the RNA polymerase that synthesizes short RNA primers necessary for initiating the synthesis of Okazaki fragments during DNA replication.

Step-by-step explanation:

The RNA polymerase that synthesizes short RNA primers for the initiation of Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand during DNA replication is called primase. These RNA primers are essential because they provide a free 3'-OH group to which DNA polymerase can add DNA nucleotides. As replication proceeds, primase works in conjunction with DNA polymerase III, which elongates the primed segments by adding new DNA nucleotides in a 5' to 3' direction. The Okazaki fragments, named after researchers Reiji and Tsuneko Okazaki, are later connected by the enzyme DNA ligase, which seals the nicks between the fragments, thus synthesizing a continuous lagging strand.