What is the function of topoisomerase?
A)relieving strain in the DNA ahead of the replication fork
B)elongation of new DNA at a replication fork by addition of nucleotides to the existing chain
C)the addition of methyl groups to bases of DNA
D)unwinding of the double helix
E)stabilizing single-stranded DNA at the replication fork

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Topoisomerase helps to relieve the strain on DNA ahead of the replication fork by breaking the DNA strands and allowing them to rotate, thereby preventing the strands from becoming excessively twisted and tangled during the replication process.

Answer: D 
 Topoisomerase is involved in the unwinding of the double helix by creating temporary breaks in the DNA strands, allowing them to rotate and unwind, which is essential for DNA replication and transcription.

Answer: E 
 Topoisomerase can also stabilize single-stranded DNA at the replication fork to prevent the strands from becoming tangled and damaged during replication. However, this is not its primary function.

Therefore, the best choice(s) are A and D.

What Is the Function of Topoisomerase