Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The DNA Replication Fork01:02

The DNA Replication Fork

An organism’s genome needs to be duplicated in an efficient and error-free manner for its growth and survival. The replication fork is a Y-shaped active region where two strands of DNA are separated and replicated continuously. The coupling of DNA unzipping and complementary strand synthesis is a characteristic feature of a replication fork.   Organisms with small circular DNA, such as E. coli, often have a single origin of replication; therefore, they have only two replication forks, one in...
The DNA Replication Fork01:02

The DNA Replication Fork

An organism’s genome needs to be duplicated in an efficient and error-free manner for its growth and survival. The replication fork is a Y-shaped active region where two strands of DNA are separated and replicated continuously. The coupling of DNA unzipping and complementary strand synthesis is a characteristic feature of a replication fork.   Organisms with small circular DNA, such as E. coli, often have a single origin of replication; therefore, they have only two replication forks, one in...
Lagging Strand Synthesis01:59

Lagging Strand Synthesis

During replication, the complementary strands in double-stranded DNA are synthesized at different rates. Replication first begins on the leading strand. Replication starts later, occurs more slowly, and proceeds discontinuously on the lagging strand.
There are several major differences between synthesis of the leading strand and synthesis of the lagging strand. 1) Leading strand synthesis happens in the direction of replication fork opening, whereas lagging strand synthesis happens in the...
Lagging Strand Synthesis01:59

Lagging Strand Synthesis

During replication, the complementary strands in double-stranded DNA are synthesized at different rates. Replication first begins on the leading strand. Replication starts later, occurs more slowly, and proceeds discontinuously on the lagging strand.
There are several major differences between synthesis of the leading strand and synthesis of the lagging strand. 1) Leading strand synthesis happens in the direction of replication fork opening, whereas lagging strand synthesis happens in the...
Restarting Stalled Replication Forks02:37

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...
Restarting Stalled Replication Forks02:37

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

smDeepFLUOR: single-molecule deep learning fluorescence classification.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Multivalent Display of Antimicrobial Peptides on Plant Virus Scaffolds Enhances Killing of Drug-Resistant Bacteria.

ACS nano·2026
Same author

ATP is dispensable for E. coli DNA replication and eukaryotic helicase activity.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Spatiotemporal characterization of single-stranded DNA intermediates after UV irradiation: II. Rapid growth and effects of recA and recJ.

PLoS genetics·2026
Same author

The interplay between supercoiling and DNA modifying enzymes at the single-molecule level.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Structure of the human CTF18-RFC clamp loader bound to PCNA.

eLife·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase
07:27

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase

Published on: April 29, 2010

Timing, coordination, and rhythm: acrobatics at the DNA replication fork.

Samir M Hamdan1, Antoine M van Oijen

  • 1Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|April 13, 2010
PubMed
Summary

DNA replication involves a loop in the lagging strand to ensure continuous synthesis. This dynamic process, observed via single-molecule techniques, clarifies replication fork mechanics.

More Related Videos

Strand-Specific Analysis of Proteins at Replicating DNA Strands by Enrichment and Sequencing of Protein-Associated Nascent DNA Method
08:53

Strand-Specific Analysis of Proteins at Replicating DNA Strands by Enrichment and Sequencing of Protein-Associated Nascent DNA Method

Published on: May 2, 2025

Visualization of DNA Replication in the Vertebrate Model System DT40 using the DNA Fiber Technique
07:18

Visualization of DNA Replication in the Vertebrate Model System DT40 using the DNA Fiber Technique

Published on: October 27, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase
07:27

Direct Restart of a Replication Fork Stalled by a Head-On RNA Polymerase

Published on: April 29, 2010

Strand-Specific Analysis of Proteins at Replicating DNA Strands by Enrichment and Sequencing of Protein-Associated Nascent DNA Method
08:53

Strand-Specific Analysis of Proteins at Replicating DNA Strands by Enrichment and Sequencing of Protein-Associated Nascent DNA Method

Published on: May 2, 2025

Visualization of DNA Replication in the Vertebrate Model System DT40 using the DNA Fiber Technique
07:18

Visualization of DNA Replication in the Vertebrate Model System DT40 using the DNA Fiber Technique

Published on: October 27, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • DNA replication requires continuous synthesis of both DNA strands.
  • The antiparallel structure of DNA presents challenges for lagging-strand synthesis.
  • Prokaryotic DNA replication utilizes a lagging-strand loop to overcome these challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent experimental advances in understanding DNA replication fork dynamics.
  • To present current models of lagging-strand DNA synthesis and replication loop formation.
  • To discuss future directions in the study of the replication fork.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent experimental findings.
  • Analysis of current theoretical models.
  • Discussion of single-molecule techniques applied to DNA replication.

Main Results:

  • Lagging-strand DNA polymerase restarts synthesis at intervals due to DNA's antiparallel nature.
  • A replication loop forms in the lagging strand, reorienting the polymerase.
  • The dynamic growth and shrinkage of this loop are crucial for Okazaki fragment synthesis.

Conclusions:

  • The interplay of enzymatic activities governs the timing of Okazaki fragment synthesis and loop formation.
  • Single-molecule techniques provide direct observation of replication fork dynamics.
  • Further research promises deeper insights into the complex mechanisms of DNA replication.