Normally, DNA and RNA polymerization is realized by polymerases, using nucleoside triphosphates. The energy for the reaction is obtained from chopping off diphosphate group. I'm curious: is there any known DNA/RNA polymerase, which will use nucleoside monophosphates directly, and obtain energy from other source, say by ATP hydrolysis? Thanks!
Dear Sergii, Sebastian is correct. In chemical terms, OH group cannot directly react with phosphate (only under very strong acidic conditions). Phosphodiester bond formation proceeds via the nucleophilic attack of OH group at phosphorus atom, and bond formation is possible when O atom replaces some leaving group that is cleaved off from P atom. This group should be more acidic (i.e. less nucleophilic) than OH. For example, pyrophosphate. But there are a lot of suitable leaving groups more efficient than pyrophosphate: arenesulfonates, imidazolides, triazolides etc. This is what oligonuccleotide synthesis is based on. NMP-imidazolides and similar compounds will polymerize to polynucleotides under mild conditions. The same for acyl-NMP. However, I am not sure if thetre is an individual enzyme that utilizes NMPs... In any case, 2-step process is necessary for polymerization - activation of NMP phosphate and condensing reaction with OH group. In principle, this activation can be performed with AMP enzymatically .
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