The image includes the replication fork, leading and lagging strands, and the placement of RNA primers.
What are the steps and components?
Unwinding of the DNA double helix: The enzyme helicase unwinds and separates the two strands of the DNA helix.
Formation of replication forks: The point where the strands separate looks like a fork, with two prongs. This area is referred to as the "replication fork."
Stabilization of unwound strands: Single-strand binding proteins (SSBs) bind to the separated strands to prevent them from re-annealing or being degraded.
Primer synthesis: Primase synthesizes a short RNA primer that provides a starting point for DNA polymerase to begin synthesis.
Leading and lagging strand synthesis:
On the leading strand, DNA polymerase synthesizes a complementary strand continuously, moving toward the replication fork.
On the lagging strand, DNA polymerase synthesizes discontinuous segments known as Okazaki fragments, moving away from the replication fork.
Primer removal and replacement with DNA: The RNA primers are removed by RNase H and replaced with DNA by DNA polymerase.
Ligation: DNA ligase joins the Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand to create a continuous strand.