DNA Replication Process

1. Helicase enzyme binds to the DNA strand at the location known as the origin of replication → unwinds the DNA double helix.

2. Single-strand binding protein → prevents the opened DNA strands from re-annealing → stabilizes the strands.
3. Primase enzyme → synthesizes a short segment (primer) on the DNA strand → serves as the initial step/primer in the DNA strand synthesis process.
4. DNA polymerase (III) → synthesizes a new DNA strand → adds complementary DNA nucleotides to the primer that match the DNA template strand.
5. Synthesis direction = 5 → 3.
6. Leading strand → the strand that is continuously synthesized → does not fragment.

7. Lagging strand → the strand that is discontinuously synthesized → located behind the leading strand → forms Okazaki fragments.

8. Exonuclease enzyme (DNA Polymerase 1) → replaces the RNA primer with a DNA strand.

9. Ligase enzyme → joins the Okazaki fragments/lagging strands that were synthesized discontinuously.

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