Primers: Difference between revisions
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A primer is a short string of [[Nucleotides|nucleotides]] used in the synthesis of [[DNA|DNA]]. Primers are essential for the function of [[DNA polymerase|DNA polymerase]] as the [[Enzyme|enzyme]] can only build [[Nucleotides|nucleotides]] onto an existing [[DNA|DNA]] strand. They are synthesised by an enzyme called [[Primase|Primase]] and are complementary in bases to the single stranded [[DNA|DNA]] template with a [[3' OH|3' OH]] end <ref>Berg, J. et al, (2007), Biochemistry, 7th Edition, New York, WH Freeman. Page 852</ref>. Primers are also useful in the [[PCR|polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]] for the amplification of a particular [[Gene|gene]] of interest. Primers are short [[RNA|RNA]] molecules in living [[Cell|cells]], however, [[DNA|DNA]] serves as the primer in non-living cells (''[[ | A primer is a specifically designed sequence of bases approximately 20bp in length. Primers are used in the [[Polymerase Chain Reaction|Polymerase Chain Reaction]] (PCR) as a step in amplifying a short sequence of DNA. | ||
A primer is a short string of [[Nucleotides|nucleotides]] used in the synthesis of [[DNA|DNA]]. Primers are essential for the function of [[DNA polymerase|DNA polymerase]] as the [[Enzyme|enzyme]] can only build [[Nucleotides|nucleotides]] onto an existing [[DNA|DNA]] strand. They are synthesised by an enzyme called [[Primase|Primase]] and are complementary in bases to the single stranded [[DNA|DNA]] template with a [[3' OH|3' OH]] end <ref>Berg, J. et al, (2007), Biochemistry, 7th Edition, New York, WH Freeman. Page 852</ref>. Primers are also useful in the [[PCR|polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]] for the amplification of a particular [[Gene|gene]] of interest. Primers are short [[RNA|RNA]] molecules in living [[Cell|cells]], however, [[DNA|DNA]] serves as the primer in non-living cells (''[[In vitro|in vitro]]'') such as in PCR <ref>Hartl D. and Jones W., (2009), Genetics; Analysis of Genes and Genomes, 7th edition, Sudbury, Jones and Bartlett publishers. Page 56</ref>. [[DNA polymerase I|DNA polymerase I]] plays an important role in the replication process by the removal of the [[RNA|RNA]] primer during its [[Proof reading|proof reading]] activity<ref>Berg, J. et al, (2007), Biochemistry, 7th Edition, New York, WH Freeman. Page 864</ref>.<br> | |||
=== References === | === References === | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 09:58, 26 November 2011
A primer is a specifically designed sequence of bases approximately 20bp in length. Primers are used in the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) as a step in amplifying a short sequence of DNA.
A primer is a short string of nucleotides used in the synthesis of DNA. Primers are essential for the function of DNA polymerase as the enzyme can only build nucleotides onto an existing DNA strand. They are synthesised by an enzyme called Primase and are complementary in bases to the single stranded DNA template with a 3' OH end [1]. Primers are also useful in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the amplification of a particular gene of interest. Primers are short RNA molecules in living cells, however, DNA serves as the primer in non-living cells (in vitro) such as in PCR [2]. DNA polymerase I plays an important role in the replication process by the removal of the RNA primer during its proof reading activity[3].
References
- ↑ Berg, J. et al, (2007), Biochemistry, 7th Edition, New York, WH Freeman. Page 852
- ↑ Hartl D. and Jones W., (2009), Genetics; Analysis of Genes and Genomes, 7th edition, Sudbury, Jones and Bartlett publishers. Page 56
- ↑ Berg, J. et al, (2007), Biochemistry, 7th Edition, New York, WH Freeman. Page 864