Question

1. You have added a drug that reduces DNA Ligase activity. What will happen to the rate at which Okazaki fragments are joined on the lagging strand? Explain your reasoning.

2. You have added a drug that reduces DNA Ligase activity. What will happen to the rate at which Okazaki fragments are synthesized on the lagging strand? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

1. The rate at which Okazaki fragments are joined on the lagging strand will reduce. Because the drug will reduce the DNA Ligase activity and DNA Ligase is the key enzyme for joining the okazaki fragments to forn the continuous lagging strand of DNA during replication of DNA.

2. The rate at which Okazaki fragments are synthesized on the lagging strand will remain the same. Because DNA Ligase has no role in the synthesis of okazaki fragments. Okazaki fragments are synthesized with the help of DNA Polymerase enzyme.