Enzymes involved in DNA Replication & Transcription Function Helicase (DNA replication) “molecular zipper” – unwinds double helix; breaks hydrogen bonds that holds base pairs together Topoisomerase (gyrase) (DNA replication) “molecular swivel”- relieves overwinding stress on DNA strands by working ahead of helicase and breaking, swiveling and rejoining small sections of the DNA molecule DNA polymerase (DNA replication) Using a parent DNA strand, adds free-floating nucleotides (A, T, G, & C’s) covalently to the new strand being constructed. Ligase (DNA replication) “molecular glue” – joins fragments of the New DNA strand together RNA polymerase (used in transcription) Uses one strand of DNA as a template to construct mRNA – adds free-floating nucleotide Editase (DNA replication) Fixes mistakes on DNA molecule