You are in the lab trying to synthesize DNA in vitro. You are upset because the lab seems to be out of dNTPs (deoxynucleoside triphosphates) but you find a tube of dNMPs (deoxynucleoside monophosphates) in the freezer. You add this to your replication reaction instead of dNTPs. Will your reaction work? Why or why not?
A) No, cleavage of dNTP drives the formation of the covalent bond between the nucleoside monophosphate and the growing DNA strand.
B) Yes, only the nucleoside monophosphate ultimately is incorporated into the growing DNA strand.
C) No, all three phosphates on the nucleoside triphosphate are incorporated into the growing DNA strand.
D) Yes, the formation of the covalent bond between the nucleoside monophosphate and the growing DNA strand is energetically favorable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cleavage of the two terminal phosphates from dNTPs (to form dNMPs) provides the necessary energy for the formation of the phosphodiester bond between nucleotides in the growing DNA strand. Without this energy release from dNTPs, the reaction cannot proceed efficiently.

You Are in the Lab Trying to Synthesize DNA in Vitro