Answer to Question #126647 in Molecular Biology for Brian

Question

Distinguish between DNA polymerases in bacteria and eukaryotes

Answer 1

Distinguish between DNA polymerases in bacteria and eukaryotes.

The DNA polymerases enzyme perform two fundamental functions in the cell, they take part in replication and DNA repair processes. A bacterial cell contains three DNA polymerases, the DNA polymerase I, II and III. A Eukaryotic cell contains five DNA polymerases, the DNA polymerase alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (δ), epsilon (ε) and lastly alpha delta (αδ)

The main difference of DNA polymerases between bacteria and eukaryotes is the number of the enzyme and also the varied functions of each polymerase. In bacteria, the DNA polymerase III catalyzes the DNA replication process in vivo while in Eukaryotes, the DNA polymerase alpha and gamma is the one responsible for in vivo replication of DNA molecule. In bacterial cells, the DNA polymerase I is responsible for repair while in Eukaryotes, the DNA polymerase beta and epsilon are responsible for repair. Lastly, in bacteria, the primase enzyme synthesizes primers while in Eukaryotes; the polymerase alpha is the one that synthesizes primers for both lagging and leading strands.