DNA Polymerase (DNAP)

DNA polymerase is a critical enzyme responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands from deoxyribonucleotides, the building blocks of DNA. It plays an essential role in cellular processes such as DNA replication, repair, and recombination. The enzyme adds nucleotides only to the 3' end of a growing strand (synthesizing in 5'→3' direction) and cannot initiate synthesis de novo; it requires a primer with a free 3'-OH group. DNA synthesis always proceeds in one direction—extending from 5' to 3'. High-fidelity proofreading mechanisms make this one of nature’s most accurate enzymes—with error rates less than one mistake per billion bases copied under optimal conditions.

Other names

DNA PolDeoxyribonucleic acid polymerase

Inhibition of DNA polymerase activity, leading to chain termination or disruption of viral/cellular DNA replication.