Which enzyme is directly responsible for synthesizing the new complementary DNA strand during prokaryotic replication by adding deoxynucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. DNA polymerase III
- Step 1: Identify the primary catalytic replisome subunit in prokaryotes (E. coli).
- Step 2: DNA polymerase III carries out high-fidelity processive elongation, adding dNTPs to the 3'-OH end of the RNA primer.
Answer
DNA polymerase III.
Why not the others: DNA ligase seals phosphodiester nicks; topoisomerase relieves supercoiling tension; RNA primase synthesizes short RNA primers.
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