Question

DNA helicases are well studied as potential drug targets. Choose the option that indicates the effect a DNA helicase inhibitors would have if it was used. A) single stranded binding proteins will not be recruited to the DNA and hence DNA strands will not separate B) the replisome complex would not assemble on the origin of replication region and hence dna strands will not separate 3) hydrogen bonds can not be broken and hence dna strands will not separate 4) the replication intiation proteins cannot be attracted to bind to origins of replication and hence dna strands can not separate

Answer 1

b) The replisome complex would not assemble on the origin of the replication region and hence DNA strands will not separate

Helicase is an enzyme which leads to the separation of the two strands of the DNA molecules after it is being loaded on the origin of replication. Helicase inhibitor can be used as potential drug targets as it might check uncontrolled expression and also limit the access to genetic material. With the helicase inhibitor, it will not allow the helicase to bind to the origin of replication and hence will not load any other enzymes or factors that is essentially require for replication. Without the helicase, the replisome complex is not formed and hence DNA replication is not possible.