Chapter 5, Problem 8P

Summary Introduction

To evaluate:  The statement “Primase is a sloppy enzyme that makes many mistakes. Eventually, the RNA primer it makes are replaced with DNA made by a polymerase with higher fidelity. This is wasteful. It would be more energy-efficient if a DNA polymerase made an accurate copy in the first place”.

Introduction: DNA primase synthesize the short RNA primers on lagging strand. This uses DNA as template. DNA polymerase add the deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate to the 3’ end of hydroxyl group of RNA primers. Unlike DNA polymerase, the DNA primase can start new polynucleotide chain by joining ribonucleoside triphosphates together. The primase synthesize short polynucleotide in the 5’- to -3’ direction.