RNA Primer Removal in Bacteria

During DNA replication in bacteria, short RNA sequences called primers are initially synthesized to start the DNA synthesis process. These RNA primers must be removed and replaced with DNA.

Role of DNA Polymerase I

DNA polymerase I is the primary enzyme responsible for removing RNA primers. It possesses two key activities:

• 5' to 3' exonuclease activity: This allows it to remove the RNA nucleotides from the 5' end of the primer.
• 5' to 3' polymerase activity: After removing the RNA, it simultaneously synthesizes DNA to fill the resulting gap.

This process ensures the continuous and accurate replication of the bacterial genome.

Other Enzymes Involved

While other enzymes are crucial for DNA replication, they don't directly remove RNA primers:

• DNA gyrase: Relieves supercoiling stress ahead of the replication fork.
• Primase: Synthesizes the RNA primer, it doesn't remove it.
• DNA polymerase II: Primarily involved in DNA repair.

Therefore, DNA polymerase I is the correct enzyme for RNA primer removal.