Question

______________________ follows DNA polymerase three and using it's 5 to 3 exonuclease activity removes the RNA primer. It then uses its 5 to 3 polymerase activity to replace the RNA nucleotides with DNA nucleotides

Answer 1

DNA Polymerase I is responsible for removing RNA primers with its 5' to 3' exonuclease activity and replacing them with DNA nucleotides during DNA replication. It also plays a role in DNA repair and is followed by the action of DNA ligase that seals the gaps in the DNA strand.

Step-by-step explanation:

The enzyme that follows DNA polymerase three and uses its 5' to 3' exonuclease activity to remove the RNA primer is DNA Polymerase I. After the RNA primer is removed, this enzyme employs its 5' to 3' polymerase activity to replace the RNA nucleotides with DNA nucleotides, ensuring that the DNA strand is complete and continuous. This is a crucial step in DNA replication, as it allows for the Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand to be processed into a complete DNA strand. Moreover, DNA Polymerase I plays a significant role in DNA repair due to its unique exonuclease activity. The gaps that remain after the RNA primers are replaced with DNA nucleotides are finally sealed by the enzyme DNA ligase, forming the phosphodiester bonds necessary for the structural integrity of the DNA molecule.