Question

Okazaki fragments are linked by ___

Each Okazaki fragment starts with a primer and stops before the next fragment.

DNA polymerase I removes the primer and replaces it with DNA in an action that resembles nick translation.

Answer 1

Okazaki fragments are linked by DNA ligase after DNA polymerase I replaces RNA primers with DNA nucleotides. DNA ligase seals the nicks between fragments, forming a continuous DNA strand on the lagging strand.

Step-by-step explanation:

Okazaki fragments are linked by the enzyme DNA ligase. During DNA replication, each Okazaki fragment on the lagging strand starts with an RNA primer. The enzyme DNA polymerase I is responsible for removing this primer. It replaces RNA with DNA nucleotides in a process akin to nick translation, utilizing the 3' end of the preceding Okazaki fragment as a starting point for DNA synthesis. The resulting 'nicks' or gaps between the Okazaki fragments are sealed by DNA ligase, which forms covalent bonds to join the DNA fragments together, thus creating a continuous DNA strand.