LEADING STRAND

1. RNA primase synthesises RNA primer by attaching NTPs

(nucloeside triphosphates) to the single stranded DNA.
2. Begins at the origin of replication site (RNA primer).
3. DNA polymerase III synthesises the new strand by attaching dNTPs
(deoxynucloeside triphosphates) to the 3 end of the RNA
primer where the formation of the new strand is continued. This allows
the replication process to occur in a 5 to 3 direction following the
replication fork.
4. DNA polymerase I removes RNA primer.
5. The two attached extra phosphate groups of dNTPs pair up with the
exposed DNA by complementary base pairing.
6. DNA polymerase III links together the sugar and innermost
phosphate groups of adjacent nucleotides.
7. The two extra phosphate groups are broken off and then released.
8. This way, continuous DNA strand is built up on the leading strand.
PROCESS ON LEADING & LAGGING STRAND

LAGGING STRAND
1. RNA primase synthesises RNA primer by attaching NTPs
(nucloeside triphosphates) to the single stranded DNA.
2. DNA polymerase III synthesises the new strand by attaching dNTPs
(deoxynucloeside triphosphates) to the 3 end of the RNA primer in a
direction away from the replication fork.
3. The replication occurs discontinuously whereby short lengths of
new DNA called Okazaki fragments are formed from each primer.
4. The fragments grows away from the replication fork until it
reaches the next fragment.
5. DNA polymerase I removes RNA primer by attaching dNTPs to
replace the RNA with DNA.
6. DNA ligase seals up each break between the fragments by making
sugar-phosphate bond to allow a continuous strand of new DNA
to be formed.

CHEMICAL NAME
Nucloeside
triphosphates (NTPs)

FUNCTION (S)
Building unit of RNA
A ribose nucleotide with 2 additional

Deoxynucloeside
triphosphates
(dNTPs)
Helicase

Single-stranded
proteins (SSBs)

DNA gyrase

RNA primase

DNA polymerase III

DNA polymerase I

DNA ligase

phosphates which are chopped off

during RNA synthesis process.
Building unit of DNA

Unwinds the DNA strands and exposes

them as single strands (template
strands).
Separates the DNA double helix by
breaking the hydrogen bonds.
Stabilise the structure and protect the
single stranded DNA structure by
binding the regions on the DNA.
Relieves the tension put on the DNA
molecule as it is being unwound.
Synthesises RNA primer by binding
NTPs to the single stranded DNA using
complimentary base pairing.
Synthesises the new DNA strand in a 5
to 3 direction by firstly binding dNTPs
to the 3 prime end of RNA primer.
Removes RNA nucleotides of RNA
primer on the lagging strand and
replacing them with DNA by attaching
dNTPs.
Joins Okazaki fragments together by
forming sugar-phosphate bond between
deoxyribose and the phosphate of
adjacent nucleotides.

TRANSCRIPTION

1) RNA polymerase unwinds the strands of DNA double helix leaving them
separate whereby one of them will become the template strand.
2) RNA polymerase synthesises mRNA by attaching free NTPs to the DNA
strand using complementary base pairing.
3) As the NTPs are linked to the DNA strand, one strand of mRNA is formed.
The mRNA strand is much shorter than the DNA strand as only one section
of the DNA is transcribed.
4) mRNA separates from the DNA and the DNA double helix is zipped back by
RNA polymerase.

TRANSLATION