AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Answer and Explanation: The SSB protein binds to individual DNA strands, preventing hydrogen bonds from reforming. The first step in DNA replication is to ‘unzip’ the DNA molecule’s double helix structure. A replication ‘fork’ is formed when two single strands of DNA are separated, forming a ‘Y’ shape.

Detailed explanation-2: -This separation is maintained by a group of proteins includes: 1-Single stranded DNA-binding (SSB) proteins, also called: helix-destabilizing proteins: these bind to only single stranded DNA and keep two strands separated and prevent reformation of double helix.

Detailed explanation-3: -This is done by single strand binding protein, or SSB protein, which binds to the unpaired single-stranded DNA and prevents the two parental strands from reannealing.

Detailed explanation-4: -During DNA replication, the single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) wraps single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with high affinity to protect it from degradation and prevent secondary structure formation. Although SSB binds ssDNA tightly, it can be repositioned along ssDNA to follow the advancement of the replication fork.

Detailed explanation-5: -Single stranded binding proteins. They cling to the newly exposed single stranded DNA and prevent the strands from reforming base pairs and also keeping them in elongated form so that they can serve as efficient templates.