DNA Replication: Mechanisms and Enzymes · Zoology

The 3' to 5' exonuclease activity of DNA Polymerase III is primarily used for:

  1. Removing RNA primers from the lagging strand
  2. Proofreading and correcting mismatched bases
  3. Degrading the parent strand ahead of synthesis
  4. Synthesizing the leader sequence at the start site
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Correct answer: Proofreading and correcting mismatched bases

The 3' to 5' exonuclease activity of DNA Polymerase III allows it to detect and excise a mismatched nucleotide immediately after it is added, then resume correct synthesis — an essential proofreading mechanism that maintains replication fidelity.

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