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D.

A replication fork contains a:

1.

Leading strand

that is synthesized continuously by 

DNA polymerase 

 (delta).

2.

Lagging strand

that is synthesized discontinuously by 

DNA polymerase 

 (alpha). DNA pri-

mase

synthesizes short RNA primers along the lagging strand. DNA polymerase 

 uses the

RNA primer to synthesize DNA fragments called 

Okazaki fragments. 

Okazaki fragments

end when they run into a downstream RNA primer. To form a continuous DNA strand
from the Okazaki fragments, a 

DNA repair enzyme

erases the RNA primers and replaces it

with DNA. 

DNA ligase

subsequently joins the all the DNA fragments together.

E.

The anti-neoplastic drugs 

camptothecins (e.g., irinotecan, topotecan)

anthracyclines (e.g., 

doxorubicin); epipodophyllotoxins (e.g., etoposide VP-16, teniposide VM-26);

and 

amsacrine

are

topoisomerase inhibitors.

F.

The anti-microbial drugs 

quinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, fluoro-

quinolones)

are also topoisomerase inhibitors.

III. THE TELOMERE

A.

The human telomere is a 3-20 kb repeating nucleotide sequence (

TTAGGG

) located at the end

of a chromosome. The 3-20 kb (TTAGGG)

n

array  is preceded by 100-300 kb of telomere—

associated repeats before any unique sequence is found.

B.

The telomere allows replication of linear DNA to its full length. Because DNA polymerases
cannot synthesize in the 3

 S 5 direction or start synthesis de novo, removal of the RNA

primers will always leave the 5

 end of the lagging strand shorter than the leading strand. If

the 5

 end of the lagging strand is not lengthened, a chromosome would get progressively

shorter as the cell goes through a number of cell divisions. 

C.

This problem of lagging strand shortening is solved by a special

RNA-directed DNA poly-

merase or reverse transcriptase 

called 

telomerase

(which has a RNA and protein component).

The RNA component of telomerase carries a 

CCCUAA

sequence (antisense sequence of the

TTAGGG telomere) that recognizes the TTAGGG sequence on the leading strand and adds
many repeats of TTAGGG to the leading strand. 

D.

After the repeats of TTAGGG are added to the leading strand, 

DNA polymerase 

uses the

TTAGGG repeats as a template to synthesize the complementary repeats on the lagging
strand. Thus, the lagging strand is lengthened. 

DNA ligase

joins the repeats to the lagging

strand and a 

nuclease

cleaves the ends to form double helix DNA with flush ends. 

E.

Telomerase is NOT utilized by a majority of 

normal somatic cells,

so that chromosomes nor-

mally get successively shorter after each replication; this contributes to the finite lifespan of
the cell. 

F.

Telomerase is utilized by 

stems cells

and 

neoplastic cells

so that chromosomes remain per-

petually long. Telomerase may play a clinical role in 

aging

and 

cancer

.

IV. TYPES OF DNA DAMAGE AND DNA REPAIR

A.

Chromosomal breakage refers to breaks in chromosomes due to sunlight (or ultraviolet) irra-
diation, ionizing irradiation, DNA cross-linking agents, or DNA damaging agents. These
insults may cause 

depurination of DNA

,

deamination of cytosine to uracil

,

or 

pyrimidine dimer-

ization,

which must be repaired by DNA repair enzymes. 

20

BRS Genetics

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B.

DNA repair involves 

DNA excision

of the damaged site, 

DNA synthesis

of the correct

sequence, and 

DNA ligation

.

Some types of DNA repair use enzymes that do not require DNA

excision.

C.

The normal response to DNA damage is to stall the cell in the 

G

1

phase

of the cell cycle until

the damage is repaired. 

D.

The system that detects and signals DNA damage is a multiprotein complex called 

BASC

(BRCA1-associated genome surveillance complex).

Some the components of BASC include:

ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) protein, nibrin, BRCA1 protein, 

and 

BRCA2 protein

.

E.

The clinical importance of DNA repair enzymes is illustrated by some rare inherited diseases
that involve genetic defects in DNA repair enzymes such as xeroderma pigmentosa (XP),
ataxia-telangiectasia, Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome, and hereditary nonpolyposis col-
orectal cancer.

F.

Types of DNA damage include:

1. Depurination.

About 5,000 purines (A’s or G’s) per day are lost from DNA of each human

cell when the N-glycosyl bond between the purine and deoxyribose sugar-phosphate is
broken. This is the most frequent type of lesion and leaves the deoxyribose sugar-phos-
phate with a missing purine base. 

2. Deamination of cytosine to uracil.

About 100 cytosines (C) per day are spontaneously

deaminate to uracil (U).If the U is not corrected back to a C, then upon replication instead
of  the occurrence of  a correct  C-G base pairing and U-A base pairing will occur instead. 

3. Pyrimidine dimerization.

Sunlight (UV radiation) can cause covalent linkage of adjacent

pyrimidines forming for example, 

thymine dimers

.

V. SUMMARY TABLE OF DNA MACHINERY 

(Table 3-1)

Chapter 3

Chromosome Replication

21

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A

B

C

5

5

5

5

5

5

3

3

3

3

3

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

3

3

3

3

3

5

5

3

3

5

5

3

3

FIGURE 3-1. Replication fork. (A)

A diagram of double helix DNA (Chromosome 1) at a replication origin (RO) site. DNA heli-

case (H) will bind at the RO and unwind the double helix into two DNA strands. This site is called a replication bubble (RB).
At both ends of a replication bubble a replication fork (RF) forms. DNA synthesis occurs in a bidirectional manner from
each RF (arrows). (B) Enlarged view of a RF at one end of the replication bubble. The leading strand serves as a template
for continuous DNA synthesis in the 5

→ 

3

 direction using DNA polymerase 

(P

). The lagging strand serves as a tem-

plate for discontinuous DNA synthesis in the 5

3

 direction using DNA polymerase 

(P

). Note that DNA synthesis on

the leading and lagging strands is in the 5

3

 direction but physically are running in opposite directions. (C) DNA syn-

thesis on the lagging strand proceeds differently than on the leading strand. DNA primase synthesizes RNA primers. DNA
polymerase 

uses these RNA primers to synthesize DNA fragments called Okazaki fragments (OF). Okazaki fragments

end when they run into a downstream RNA primer. Subsequently, DNA repair enzymes remove the RNA primers and
replace it with DNA. Finally, DNA ligase joins all the Okazaki fragments together.

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Chapter 3

Chromosome Replication

23

t a b l e

3-1

Summary of DNA Replication Machinery

Component Function

Topoisomerase

Nicks (or breaks) a single strand of DNA which causes DNA unwinding

DNA helicase

Recognizes the replication fork and opens up the double helix

High Fidelity DNA-Directed DNA Polymerases

DNA polymerase 

Synthesizes the lagging strand;  3

→ 

5

 exonuclease absent*

DNA polymerase 

Repairs DNA by base excision;  3

→ 

5

 exonuclease absent

DNA polymerase 

Synthesizes mitochondrial DNA;  3

→ 

5

 exonuclease present

DNA polymerase 

Synthesizes the leading strand; 3

→ 

5

 exonuclease present; repairs DNA by nucleotide

and base excision

DNA polymerase 

Repairs DNA by nucleotide and base excision; 3

→ 

5

 exonuclease present

Low Fidelity DNA-Directed DNA Polymerases

DNA polymerase 

ζ

Involved in hypermutation in B and T lymphocytes

DNA polymerase 

η

Involved in hypermutation in B and T lymphocytes

DNA polymerase 

ι

Involved in hypermutation in B and T lymphocytes

DNA polymerase 

Involved in hypermutation in B and T lymphocytes

RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase (Reverse Transcriptase)

Telomerase

Lengthens the end of the lagging strand

LINE 1/endogenous retrovirus 

Converts RNA into cDNA, which can integrate elsewhere in the genome

reverse transcriptase

Primase

Synthesizes short RNA primers 

Ligase

Catalyzes the formation of the 3

,5-phosphodiester bond; joins DNA fragments

Single-stranded binding proteins

Maintain the stability of the replication fork

High fidelity 

 DNA sequence faithfully copied;   low fidelity  DNA sequence not faithfully copied (error prone)

* 3

 

→ 

5

 exonuclease  serves as proofreading activity

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24

1.

Human cells have a finite lifespan and this

contributes to the aging process. Stem cells
and neoplastic cells have indefinite life
spans. The reason for these observations is
that chromosomes in a cell get progressively
shorter with each cell division because the
telomere sequences at the ends of the chro-
mosomes get shorter with each cell division.
The chromosomes in stem cells and neo-
plastic cells do not generally shorten with
each cell division. The enzyme utilized by
stem cells and neoplastic cells to lengthen
the telomeres is which of the following?

(A)

DNA polymerase delta

(B)

DNA polymerase alpha

(C)

DNA ligase

(D)

topoisomerase

(E)

telomerase 

2.

Some antineoplastic drugs act by inhibit-

ing which of the following?

(A)

DNA helicase

(B)

topoisomerase

(C)

telomerase

(D)

DNA polymerase delta

(E)

DNA polymerase alpha

3.

Which one of the following is an accurate

statement regarding chromosome replication?

(A)

It is semiconservative.

(B)

It occurs during G1 in the cell cycle.

(C)

Inactive genes are replicated first.

(D)

It starts with the synthesis of Okazaki
fragments.

4.

The leading strand of DNA in the replica-

tion fork is synthesized by which one of the
following mechanisms?

(A)

continuously by DNA polymerase alpha.

(B)

discontinuously by DNA polymerase delta.

(C)

continuously by DNA polymerase delta.

(D)

discontinuously by DNA polymerase alpha.

5.

The autosomal recessive disease Fanconi

anemia is characterized by chromosome
breakage and rearrangements and most indi-
viduals with the disease will develop some
kind of cancer. Which one of the following is
defective in individuals with Fanconi anemia?

(A)

DNA polymerase delta

(B)

DNA repair enzyme

(C)

DNA ligase

(D)

DNA primase

Review Test

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