Journal Summary 2
I found the article, “Watching DNA polymerase n make a phosphodiester bond” (Nakamura, et al.) very interesting. Their research into the different transition states of DNA replication really gave me a chance to think about more than just the “big picture” points in DNA synthesis and look closer at the details.
The goal of the research was to visualize the chemical reaction of DNA synthesis. The researchers used x-ray crystallography to follow the bond formation and structural changes associated with DNA replication reactions. These transition states have never been visualized previously. They catalysed the reaction by using DNA polymerase (Pol) and were able to extend the use of flash freeze technology. This allowed them to see the reaction in real time, with the help of X-ray crystallography. Due to this new technique, they observed additional transitional states previously unexplored as well as suggesting a third magnesium ion is involved in the reaction. They believed and proved, that by using their technique, intermediate states
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The researchers not only believed that this technique is valuable for visualizing already known transition states in DNA synthesis, but that it would show that there are additional transition states that, due to short reaction times and high energy, have no previously been seen. The researchers also identify a third magnesium ion that stabilizes the new bond in the intermediate state. This add information to the two metal ion dependent mechanism that is believed to be used by DNA and RNA polymerases as well as many nucleases. I think this research is important because it not only documents new techniques that may be helpful in other areas of research, but it takes a fine tooth comb through the bond formations in DNA