Science Homework Help

Please answer in full sentences! Will tip for a thourough answer- thanks!

Suppose that you are a newly employed researcher at a university. You have been hired on the basis that you are going to investigate the role of a newly discovered polymerase enzyme – let’s call it Pol4202. This polymerase is hypothesized to bypass UV photodimers.

Part A

Your graduate student has created the following DNA sequence containing a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (denoted by **), as well as several primers to use for primer extension. This will be used as a test substrate to establish whether Pol4202 can bypass the lesion. Describe the necessary biochemical components that must be added to carry out this experiment and why each is required.

Part B

Interpret the results of the gel below (which was performed using the template and primers from Part A, above, with and without dimers as indicated at the top of each lane). Does Pol4202 possess the hypothesized activity? Recall that Polδ is a replicative polymerase. Describe the expected outcome on this gel for both successful and unsuccessful lesion bypass.