Question

Which enzyme is only found in prokaryotic organisms?

a) DNA polymerase I
b) DNA ligase
c) Telomerase
d) RNA polymerase II

Answer 1

Telomerase is the enzyme found only in eukaryotic organisms, not in prokaryotes, which have circular chromosomes and thus do not require this enzyme for maintaining chromosome ends.

Correct option is a) DNA polymerase I

Step-by-step explanation:

The enzyme that is characteristic of prokaryotic organisms and not found in eukaryotes is telomerase. Telomerase is an enzyme that maintains the ends of linear chromosomes. In prokaryotic organisms, which typically have circular chromosomes, telomerase is absent. Prokaryotes replicate their DNA using a single type of polymerase, whereas eukaryotes use multiple polymerases for their replication processes. Specifically, DNA polymerase III is responsible for strand elongation in prokaryotes.

For RNA transcription, prokaryotes use a single RNA polymerase that is composed of five subunits, forming the holoenzyme necessary for initiating and carrying out transcription.