Pyrophosphate is released and the new base forms a phosphodiester bond with the growing strand of DNA. The free 3´ hydroxyl group is then freed to attack the next base to be added.
Within a cell, the DNA double strand is separated in segments during the copying process. One of the single strands serves as the “master copy” or template. Polymerase enzymes snap together the corresponding nucleotides stepwise to form the new complementary strand, beginning with a “starting segment” known as a primer. The backbone of a DNA strand is an alternating chain of five-membered sugar rings and phosphate groups. The chain links are formed at the 3’ and 5’ oxygen atoms of the sugars; natural growth occurs in the 3’ direction.
Look the video of DNA synthesis direction - 3' or 5'
Because the strands of a DNA double helix have opposite chemical polarity, one strand is extended in a 5'-3' direction while the other extends in a 3'-5' direction. However, DNA polymerases can only catalyze synthesis in the 5'-3' direction.
Extending both ways synthesis direction |
Extending both ways:
A method for DNA-templated synthesis on solid support is described.
Controlled, stepwise chain extension was demonstrated both in the
direction favored by nature (3′-extension; see scheme) and in the
direction typical for conventional DNA synthesizers (5′-extension).
Source : http://library.thinkquest.org/C006188/basics/replication.htm
Source : http://library.thinkquest.org/C006188/basics/replication.htm
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