Question

The sliding clamp complex encircles the DNA template and binds to DNA polymerase. This helps the polymerase synthesize much longer stretches of DNA without dissociating. While the loading of the clamp only occurs once on the leading strand, it must happen each time a new Okazaki fragment is made on the lagging strand. How does the cell expedite this process?

Answer 1

The cell expedites the process of lagging strand replication during DNA synthesis via the coordinated action of the sliding clamp holding DNA polymerase in place, and enzymes like RNase H and DNA ligase efficiently removing RNA primers and joining Okazaki fragments.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process of DNA replication on the lagging strand is made efficient through the coordinated work of several proteins and enzymes. To synthesize Okazaki fragments, which are short stretches of DNA, a sliding clamp protein such as PCNA (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen) holds DNA polymerase in place, allowing it to synthesize DNA without dissociating after completing each fragment. Each Okazaki fragment requires a separate RNA primer, and once DNA polymerase encounters the primer of the previous fragment, the RNA is removed. This removal is followed by DNA synthesis to fill the gap, and ultimately, DNA ligase seals the fragments with a phosphodiester bond, ensuring a continuous DNA strand. This process is streamlined by enzymes like RNase H and the capacity of DNA polymerase to quickly switch from completing one fragment to initiating synthesis on the next.