Elongation of DNA Replication How does unwinding of the double helix at the repl

Question

Elongation of DNA Replication How does unwinding of the double helix at the replication fork affect the topology, including positive and supercoiling, of the DNA molecule? What problems does this create for continuing replication? What specific enzyme resolves this problem? Termination of DNA Replication What problems does terminating replication create for circular DNA molecules? How are these problem resolved? Telomeres and telomerase: What is the specific difficulty that linear eukaryotic chromosomes face at the end of DNA replication? What problems at the organismal level of biology does this molecular difficulty generate? How does telomerase generate telomeres? How do telomeres help provide a solution to this difficulty?

Explanation / Answer

ELONGATION OF DNA REPLICATION

Length of chromosomes places a limitation to rotate and self-resolve the torsional stress created by the unwinding of the DNA strands. This causes it to be wound more tightly. But thankfully we have enzymes called topoisomerases which relieve this by changing the supercoiling. One of such enzymes DNA gyrase cuts both DNA strands ahead of the replication fork passes a segment of DNA through the double-stranded break to the other side and then sealing the cuts, removing the positive supercoils. This process is energy dependent and consumes ATP.

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