Final answer:
DNA pol I is an enzyme involved in repairing the lagging strand during DNA replication. It removes RNA primers and fills in the gaps between the newly synthesized DNA fragments. DNA ligase seals the nicks in the DNA strand by forming a covalent phosphodiester linkage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The DNA polymerase I (DNA pol I) enzyme plays a critical role in DNA replication. It is most abundant and is involved in repairing the lagging strand of DNA. DNA pol I is responsible for removing the RNA primers and filling the gaps in the DNA helix. It also seals the nicks that remain between the newly synthesized DNA and the previously synthesized DNA.
During the process of DNA replication, the lagging strand is synthesized in short fragments called Okazaki fragments. Each Okazaki fragment requires a new RNA primer to initiate synthesis. After the RNA primers are replaced with DNA nucleotides, there are gaps between the newly synthesized DNA fragments. DNA pol I removes the RNA primers and fills in these gaps by adding deoxyribonucleotides.
The nick, which refers to a break in the DNA strand, is sealed by the enzyme DNA ligase. DNA ligase catalyzes the formation of a covalent phosphodiester linkage, closing the nick and stabilizing the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA molecule.