Final answer:
Yes, proteins use ATP to further break hydrogen bonds between the strands and separate them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, proteins use ATP to further break hydrogen bonds between the strands and separate them. Helicase is an enzyme that unwinds the DNA strands at the origin of replication. This process requires energy in the form of ATP. Once the strands are unwound, DNA binding proteins bind to the strands to keep them apart.
To prevent complete unwinding of the DNA, an enzyme called DNA gyrase puts a knot a little away from the replication fork. The process of DNA replication involves several enzymes and proteins working together to separate the DNA strands, and ATP is necessary for the energy required in this process.