In Front, not Behind (IMAGE)

Rockefeller University

In Front, not Behind

Caption

Previously (left), the replisome's two polymerases (green) were assumed to be below the helicase (tan), the enzyme that splits the DNA strands. The new images reveal one polymerase is located at the front of the helicase, causing one strand to loop backward as it is copied (right).

Credit

Brookhaven National Laboratory

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Image may be used only to illustrate the research described in the accompanying release.

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