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Replicative DNA Helicases and Primases

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Molecular Life Sciences

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Synopsis

Replication of a cell’s genetic material is one of the most fundamental functions in biology. The genetic information defining each species is encoded within the sequence of the DNA double helix, and to be copied into a new genome, the sequence of the parental DNA must be revealed and made available to copying enzymes known as DNA polymerases. Watson and Crick, in their seminal 1953 paper on the “Molecular Structure of Nucleic Acids” (Watson and Crick 1953), pointed out that “the specific base pairing (Guanine to Cytosine and Adenine to Thymine) immediately suggests a possible copying mechanism for the genetic material.” They further postulated that “prior to duplication the hydrogen bonds break and the two chains unwind and separate” and asked “what makes the pair of chains unwind and separate?” The answer to this important question is DNA helicases.

Introduction

DNA helicases are molecular motors that convert chemical energy from NTP (nucleoside triphosphate) binding and...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Notthingham, UK

    Panos Soultanas

  2. School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, NG7 2UH, Nottingham, UK

    Edward Bolt

Authors
  1. Panos Soultanas
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  2. Edward Bolt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Panos Soultanas .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Chemistry, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, USA

    Ellis Bell

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Soultanas, P., Bolt, E. (2014). Replicative DNA Helicases and Primases. In: Bell, E. (eds) Molecular Life Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_57-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6436-5_57-6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6436-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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