Leading strand

Leading Strand

The Leading strand is one of the two new strands of DNA that are synthesized during DNA replication. It is synthesized continuously in the 3' to 5' direction by DNA polymerase. This is in contrast to the other new strand, known as the lagging strand, which is synthesized discontinuously in short fragments known as Okazaki fragments.

Overview

During DNA replication, the DNA molecule is unzipped by the enzyme helicase, creating a replication fork. The leading strand is synthesized continuously by DNA polymerase, which adds new nucleotides to the 3' end of the new strand. This process continues until the entire strand has been replicated.

The leading strand is synthesized in the same direction as the movement of the replication fork, which allows for continuous synthesis. This is in contrast to the lagging strand, which is synthesized in the opposite direction, resulting in discontinuous synthesis.

Synthesis

The synthesis of the leading strand begins with the binding of RNA primase to the DNA template. This enzyme synthesizes a short RNA primer, which provides a 3' end for DNA polymerase to begin synthesis.

Once the primer is in place, DNA polymerase binds to the DNA template and begins adding new nucleotides to the 3' end of the primer. This process continues until the entire strand has been replicated.

Role in DNA Replication

The leading strand plays a crucial role in DNA replication. Because it is synthesized continuously, it allows for the rapid and efficient replication of the DNA molecule. This is essential for cell division, as it ensures that each new cell receives a complete copy of the DNA.

See Also

• DNA replication
• Lagging strand
• Okazaki fragments
• RNA primase
• DNA polymerase

References

Leading strand Resources
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