What is the Mechanism of Catalysis in DNA Polymerases?
The catalytic mechanism of DNA polymerases involves a series of well-coordinated steps: 1. Binding: The enzyme binds to the DNA template and the incoming deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP). 2. Conformational Change: The enzyme undergoes a conformational change to align the reactive groups. 3. Nucleotide Addition: The 3’-OH group of the growing DNA strand attacks the α-phosphate of the dNTP, forming a phosphodiester bond and releasing pyrophosphate. 4. Translocation: The enzyme moves to the next nucleotide position on the template.
