Definition for Difference between revisions of "DNA polymerase"
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(Created page with "A DNA polymerase is an enzyme (the suffix -ase is used to identify enzymes) that helps catalyze the polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides into a DNA strand. DNA polymerases are ...") |
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| − | A DNA polymerase is an enzyme (the suffix -ase is used to identify enzymes) that helps catalyze the polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides into a DNA strand. DNA polymerases are best known for their feedback role in DNA replication, in which the polymerase "reads" an intact DNA strand as a template and uses it to synthesize the new strand. This process copies a piece of DNA. The newly polymerized molecule is complementary to the template strand and identical to the template's original partner strand. DNA polymerases use magnesium ions as cofactors. Human DNA polymerases are 900-1000 amino acids long.<br> | + | A DNA polymerase is an enzyme (the suffix -''ase'' is used to identify enzymes) that helps catalyze the polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides into a DNA strand. DNA polymerases are best known for their feedback role in DNA replication, in which the polymerase "reads" an intact DNA strand as a template and uses it to synthesize the new strand. This process copies a piece of DNA. The newly polymerized molecule is complementary to the template strand and identical to the template's original partner strand. DNA polymerases use magnesium ions as cofactors. Human DNA polymerases are 900-1000 amino acids long.<br> |
Latest revision as of 01:12, 14 July 2012
A DNA polymerase is an enzyme (the suffix -ase is used to identify enzymes) that helps catalyze the polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides into a DNA strand. DNA polymerases are best known for their feedback role in DNA replication, in which the polymerase "reads" an intact DNA strand as a template and uses it to synthesize the new strand. This process copies a piece of DNA. The newly polymerized molecule is complementary to the template strand and identical to the template's original partner strand. DNA polymerases use magnesium ions as cofactors. Human DNA polymerases are 900-1000 amino acids long.