What does primase do?

Primase is an essential enzyme involved in DNA replication. Its primary function is to catalyze the synthesis of short RNA primers complementary to a single-stranded DNA template. This is a crucial step because DNA polymerases, the enzymes responsible for replicating DNA, are unable to initiate synthesis of a new strand without a primer. The RNA primers provide the necessary starting points for DNA polymerases to extend and synthesize new DNA strands.

During DNA replication, primase lays down these RNA primers at specific locations on the template strand. Once the primers are in place, DNA polymerases can then extend from these primers, ultimately leading to the formation of new DNA strands. The RNA primers are later removed and replaced with DNA, ensuring that the final product is purely DNA.

Understanding the role of primase highlights its importance in the overall process of DNA replication, specifically in enabling DNA synthesis to commence. Other processes listed, such as replicating DNA sequences, destroying RNA sequences, or repairing DNA mutations, involve different enzymes and mechanisms distinct from those performed by primase.