DNA Replication (Leading and Lagging Strands)

Biology Mechanisms Complexity: medium

Description

DNA replication: helicase unwinds the origin, primase/polymerase synthesize the continuous leading strand and discontinuous Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand, which are matured and ligated as the fork advances.

Process Flowchart

graph TD N1["Origin of replication"] N2["Helicase unwinds duplex"] N3["Primase makes RNA primer"] N4["Pol extends leading strand"] N5["Lagging: Okazaki fragments"] N6["Primers removed; gaps filled"] N7["Ligase seals nicks"] N8{"Fork continues?"} N9["Two daughter duplexes"] N1 --> N2 N2 --> N3 N3 --> N4 N3 --> N5 N5 --> N6 N6 --> N7 N4 --> N8 N7 --> N8 N8 -->|continue| N2 N8 -->|done| N9 style N1 fill:#ff6b6b,color:#fff style N2 fill:#51cf66,color:#fff style N3 fill:#51cf66,color:#fff style N4 fill:#51cf66,color:#fff style N5 fill:#51cf66,color:#fff style N6 fill:#51cf66,color:#fff style N7 fill:#51cf66,color:#fff style N8 fill:#74c0fc,color:#fff style N9 fill:#b197fc,color:#fff

Node provenance

Each step below is grounded in a cited source (hover a citation for the full title).

StepRoleSource
Origin of replicationTriggers & InputsAlberts, B. et al. 2002
Helicase unwinds duplexProcessing & OperationsO'Donnell, M. et al. 2013
Primase makes RNA primerProcessing & OperationsO'Donnell, M. et al. 2013
Pol extends leading strandProcessing & OperationsAlberts, B. et al. 2002
Lagging: Okazaki fragmentsProcessing & OperationsAlberts, B. et al. 2002
Primers removed; gaps filledProcessing & OperationsO'Donnell, M. et al. 2013
Ligase seals nicksProcessing & OperationsO'Donnell, M. et al. 2013
Fork continues?Intermediates & StatesBell, S. P. et al. 2016
Two daughter duplexesProducts & OutputsAlberts, B. et al. 2002

🎨 Color Scheme (5-Color System)

Red
Triggers & Inputs
Yellow
Structures & Objects
Green
Processing & Operations
Blue
Intermediates & States
Violet
Products & Outputs

Process Statistics

  • Nodes: 9
  • Edges: 10
  • Conditionals: 1
  • AND Gates: 2
  • OR Gates: 2
  • Total Gates: 4

Keywords

  • dna replication
  • helicase
  • okazaki
  • leading strand
  • lagging strand
  • ligase

Sources & References

  • Principles and concepts of DNA replication in bacteria, archaea, and eukarya
    O'Donnell, M.; Langston, L.; Stillman, B. , Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology (2013)
    DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a010108
  • Molecular Biology of the Cell (DNA Replication Mechanisms)
    Alberts, B.; Johnson, A.; Lewis, J.; Raff, M.; Roberts, K.; Walter, P. , Garland Science (NCBI Bookshelf) (2002)
    View Source
  • Chromosome Duplication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
    Bell, S. P.; Labib, K. , Genetics (2016)
    DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.186452