Termination (genetics)

The termination is the third and final stage of DNA replication .

In the case of linear DNA - as in the chromosomes of eukaryotes , for example - the termination does not have to be triggered in particular, since when two replication forks converge or the DNA ends, the replication is automatically terminated.

In the case of prokaryotes and DNA containing organelles with annularly constructed DNA ( mitochondria , chloroplasts , ...) (are relative to the origin of replication English Origin ) preferred termination been found. These are more precisely two base sequences , one each for a replication fork. Replication by the DNA polymerase and the primase ends there. Here two replication complexes meet. Only one of the two will continue to replicate until the missing nucleotides are replenished. The two daughter DNA molecules produced are then separated from one another.

See also

• Replication § Termination
• Hayflick limit
• Telomere and Telomerase

literature

• James E. Darnell , Harvey Lodish, David Baltimore : Molecular Cell Biology . de Gruyter, Berlin et al. 1993, ISBN 3-11-011934-X (4th edition. Harvey Lodish: Molecular Cell Biology. Spectrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg et al. 2001, ISBN 3-8274-1077-0 ).
• Benjamin Lewin: Molecular Biology of Genes . Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg et al. 1998, ISBN 3-8274-0234-4 .
• William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte A. Spencer: Genetics . 8th, updated edition 2007, ISBN 978-3-8273-7247-5 .
• TA Brown (2002): Genomes. BIOS Scientific Publishers. ISBN 1-85996-228-9 .13.2.3. Termination of replication