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Related Concept Videos

Proofreading01:43

Proofreading

Overview
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 Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
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...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
Genome Copying Errors02:46

Genome Copying Errors

DNA replication is a well-evolved process that copies millions of base pairs with high fidelity during each cell division. Occasionally a wrong base or a long stretch of wrong bases may get added to the daughter strands. If the errors are left unchecked, cells might accumulate several mutations that might endanger their  survival. Therefore, the copying errors are checked and repaired at three levels.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 18, 2026

Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis
11:08

Proofreading and DNA Repair Assay Using Single Nucleotide Extension and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: June 19, 2018

Error correction during DNA replication.

Ajeet K Sharma1, Debashish Chowdhury

  • 1Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, India.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|September 26, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

DNA polymerase (DNAP) has dual roles in DNA replication, acting as both a builder and a remover. This study models DNAP

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • DNA polymerase (DNAP) possesses dual functions: polymerization and exonuclease activity.
  • These opposing activities are crucial for accurate DNA replication but can lead to errors.
  • Misincorporation or erroneous cleavage can cause replication errors or loss of correct nucleotides.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the interplay between polymerase and exonuclease activities of DNAP.
  • To develop a minimal stochastic kinetic model for DNA replication.
  • To derive analytical expressions for statistical distributions characterizing DNAP's mechanical and chemical reactions.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a minimal stochastic kinetic model of DNA replication.
  • Derivation of exact analytical expressions for key statistical distributions.
  • Analysis of temporal patterns in mechanical stepping and chemical cleavage reactions.

Main Results:

  • Analytical expressions were derived for statistical distributions related to DNAP activity.
  • Michaelis-Menten-like expressions were obtained for average rates of polymerization and cleavage.
  • The coupling between polymerase and exonuclease activities was quantified.

Conclusions:

  • The model provides insights into the coupled activities of DNA polymerase.
  • Derived expressions can measure the extent of replication errors and erroneous cleavage.
  • This work advances the understanding of DNA replication fidelity mechanisms.