What does a chain terminator do?
Stops all replication
A chain terminator is a type of molecule that stops the growth of a DNA or RNA chain during molecular biology experiments. Typically, chain terminators are used in DNA sequencing or PCR (polymerase chain reaction) experiments to terminate the addition of new nucleotides to the growing chain, resulting in fragments of varying sizes that can be analyzed.
Chain terminators work by blocking the addition of the next nucleotide in the chain. For example, in DNA sequencing, dideoxynucleotides (ddNTPs) are used as chain terminators because they lack the 3′ hydroxyl group necessary for the formation of the phosphodiester bond between the adjacent nucleotide in the chain.
When a ddNTP is incorporated into the growing DNA chain during sequencing or PCR, it becomes the last nucleotide added since it blocks further elongation. This results in a series of fragments of different lengths that can be separated by gel electrophoresis and analyzed to determine the sequence of the original DNA template.
Overall, the use of chain terminators has revolutionized DNA sequencing and allowed for high-throughput analysis of DNA and RNA molecules.
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