Final answer:
Eukaryotic DNA replication involves three primary DNA polymerases: DNA polymerase epsilon (similar to DNA polymerase-II), DNA polymerase alpha (similar to DNA polymerase-I in prokaryotes), and DNA polymerase delta (similar to DNA polymerase-III). These enzymes work together at the replication fork to synthesize new DNA strands, with DNA polymerase alpha initiating synthesis and DNA polymerase delta extending the strands, aided by PCNA for processivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Three different DNA polymerases make up the eukaryotic replication fork: DNA polymerase epsilon (ε), DNA polymerase alpha (α), and DNA polymerase delta (δ). DNA polymerase epsilon is similar to DNA polymerase-II and plays a pivotal role during replication. DNA polymerase alpha, akin to DNA polymerase-I in prokaryotes, initiates DNA synthesis by synthesizing a short RNA primer which is later extended with DNA nucleotides. Lastly, DNA polymerase delta is comparable to DNA polymerase-III and is responsible for the majority of the replication process, working in association with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), ensuring processivity during DNA synthesis.
In addition, the eukaryotic replication machinery involves more than 14 different DNA polymerases, of which five, identified as pol α (alpha), pol β (beta), pol γ (gamma), pol δ(delta), and pol ε (epsilon), have been well-studied and are known to play major roles during replication. While there are also three RNA polymerases (I, II, and III) in eukaryotes, they are involved in transcription, not replication.