Question

What is the role of the dimeric unit of DNA polymerase III in DNA replication, and how does tau contribute to this process?

A) The dimeric unit increases the speed of DNA polymerase III, while tau maintains the dimeric structure.
B) The dimeric unit enhances the accuracy of DNA polymerase III, while tau promotes dissociation of the dimer.
C) The dimeric unit increases processivity of DNA polymerase III, while tau maintains the dimeric structure.
D) The dimeric unit facilitates the proofreading activity of DNA polymerase III, while tau inhibits dimer formation.

Answer 1

The dimeric unit of DNA polymerase III increases the enzyme's processivity, while the tau subunit maintains the enzyme's dimeric structure during DNA replication.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role of the dimeric unit of DNA polymerase III in DNA replication is critical for efficiently synthesizing the new strands of DNA. This holoenzyme is composed of multiple subunits, with the core consisting of subunits α, ε, and θ, while the dimeric structure is made possible due to the β subunit, which acts as a sliding clamp, increasing the processivity of the enzyme. The subunit known as tau is also essential as it helps to maintain the dimeric structure of DNA polymerase III, allowing the enzyme to work on both the leading and lagging strands simultaneously by coordinating the activities of both core complexes. Therefore, the correct answer to the question of the role of the dimeric unit of DNA polymerase III in DNA replication, and how tau contributes to this process is: C) The dimeric unit increases processivity of DNA polymerase III, while tau maintains the dimeric structure.