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cliff8105
cliff8105
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is the purpose of the enzyme helicase and how does it function?

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Posted by cliff8105 on Thursday June 18, 2009 at 6:45 AM and tagged with dna repair, enzyme helicase, intra cellular process.

Answers:

  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
    Doctorate

    eNotes Editor

    The enzyme helicase's main function is to separate the nucleic acid strands during cellular processes like DNA replication or repair. It catalyzes the disruption of the hydrogen bonds that holds the two strands of double-stranded DNA together. This energy requiring unwinding reaction results in the formation of the single-stranded DNA as a required template or reaction intermediate in DNA replication. The enzyme helicase uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to separate the nucleic acid strands.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/microbiology-encyclopedia
    http://www.enotes.com/uxl-science-encyclopedia

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    Posted by lit24 on Thursday June 18, 2009 at 8:12 AM