3. DNA replication

3.6 The replisome

Figure 25: Leading strand (above) and lagging strand (below) with Okazaki fragments during DNA replication

Figure 25: Leading strand (above) and lagging strand (below) with Okazaki fragments during DNA replication

The replisome is the set of enzymes that carry out their functions at the replication fork.

  • Opening of the DNA double helix by helicase

  • Synthesis of the leading strand by DNA polymerase at the same pace as the helicase

  • Primers positioned at regular intervals by primase to allow the synthesis of lagging strands by DNA polymerase.