Question

DNA ligase catalyzes the

-formation of hydrogen bonds between adjacent 5′-P and 3′-OH groups.
-formation of covalent bonds between adjacent 5′-P and 3′-OH groups.
-relaxation of supercoiled DNA.
-denaturation of double-stranded DNA.
-base-pairing between single-stranded DNA molecules.

Answer 1

DNA ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of covalent phosphodiester linkages between DNA fragments during DNA replication and repair, thus ensuring the continuity and integrity of the DNA molecule.

Step-by-step explanation:

DNA ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of a covalent phosphodiester linkage between the 3'-OH end of one DNA fragment and the 5' phosphate end of another DNA fragment. This action is critical during DNA replication and repair processes, where the ligase seals the nicks in the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA. For instance, during DNA replication, DNA ligase works to join the Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand to form a continuous DNA strand. Similarly, when repairing DNA, this enzyme will seal the repaired strands to restore the integrity of the DNA.