Printed from Biology101.org
DNA Ligase ---- an enzyme that connects (ligates) two strands of DNA (Okazaki fragments on the lagging strand)
DNA Helicase ---- an enzyme that separates the two strands of the double helix to allow replication
DNA Polymerase ---- an enzyme that adds nucleotides to the growing DNA strand
DNA Gyrase ---- an enzyme that releases tension in the double helix as the two strands are unwound during replication
Okazaki fragment ---- a small segment of DNA that is produced on the lagging strand during replication
Leading Strand ---- the strand that is replicated continuously since it is synthesized in the same direction that the replication fork opens
Lagging Strand ---- the strand that is replicated discontinuously in small segments called Okazaki fragments
Primase ---- an enzyme that adds the RNA primer necessary for replication to proceed
Primer ---- a short strand of RNA that must bind to the template strand in order for DNA Polymerase to begin replication