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Related Concept Videos

Proofreading01:43

Proofreading

Synthesis of new DNA molecules starts when DNA polymerase links nucleotides together in a sequence that is complementary to the template DNA strand. DNA polymerase has a higher affinity for the correct base to ensure fidelity in DNA replication. The DNA polymerase furthermore proofreads during replication, using an exonuclease domain that cuts off incorrect nucleotides from the nascent DNA strand.Errors during Replication Are Corrected by the DNA Polymerase EnzymeGenomic DNA is synthesized in...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
Translesion DNA Polymerases02:10

Translesion DNA Polymerases

Translesion (TLS) polymerases rescue stalled DNA polymerases at sites of damaged bases by replacing the replicative polymerase and installing a nucleotide across the damaged site. Doing so, TLS allows additional time for the cell to repair the damage before resuming regular DNA replication.
TLS polymerases are found in all three domains of life - archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Of the different classes of TLS polymerases, members of the Y family are fitted with specialized structures that...
Proofreading01:31

Proofreading

Synthesis of new DNA molecules is carried out by the enzyme DNA polymerase, which adds nucleotides on the daughter strand complementary to the template DNA strand. DNA polymerase has a higher affinity to add the correct base and ensures fidelity during DNA replication. Furthermore,  it exhibits proofreading activity during replication, using an exonuclease domain that cuts off incorrect nucleotides from the nascent DNA strand.
Errors During Replication are Corrected by the DNA Polymerase Enzyme
Mismatch Repair01:20

Mismatch Repair

Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Direct Observation of Enzymes Replicating DNA Using a Single-molecule DNA Stretching Assay
17:03

Direct Observation of Enzymes Replicating DNA Using a Single-molecule DNA Stretching Assay

Published on: March 23, 2010

Structures of mismatch replication errors observed in a DNA polymerase.

Sean J Johnson1, Lorena S Beese

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Cell
|March 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

High-fidelity DNA polymerases ensure genomic stability by stalling when encountering mismatched base pairs. This study reveals structural mechanisms for this stalling and explains the enzyme's "short-term memory" of errors.

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Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

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Direct Observation of Enzymes Replicating DNA Using a Single-molecule DNA Stretching Assay
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Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis
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Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: June 19, 2018

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes
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Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Accurate DNA replication is crucial for maintaining genomic stability.
  • DNA polymerases employ mechanisms like stalling to correct replication errors.
  • Some polymerases exhibit a
  • short-term memory
  • of mismatches distant from the primer terminus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To structurally characterize all 12 possible base-pair mismatches at the DNA polymerase active site.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms of polymerase stalling induced by DNA mismatches.
  • To investigate how distant mismatches are recognized by the enzyme.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography to capture DNA polymerase-mismatch complexes.
  • Structural analysis of 12 distinct mismatch types.
  • Examination of DNA structures extending up to six base pairs from the primer terminus.

Main Results:

  • Identified four distinct mechanisms for mismatch-induced polymerase stalling.
  • Observed that DNA distortions transmit mismatch information to the active site.
  • Demonstrated that polymerase response to mismatches can extend up to six base pairs from the primer terminus.

Conclusions:

  • Structural insights into DNA polymerase fidelity mechanisms.
  • Elucidation of the structural basis for the
  • short-term memory
  • of replication errors.
  • Understanding how DNA polymerases maintain genomic integrity through error recognition and stalling.