What Provides the Energy for the Polymerization Reactions in DNA

Question

What provides the energy for the polymerization reactions in DNA synthesis?
A)ATP
B)DNA polymerase
C)breaking the hydrogen bonds between complementary DNA strands
D)the deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate substrates
E)the making of hydrogen bonds between complementary DNA strands

Accepted Answer

The energy for polymerization reactions in DNA synthesis is provided by the deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate substrates. Each incoming nucleotide triphosphate has two phosphate groups that are cleaved off during the polymerization reaction, releasing energy that drives the reaction forward. ATP is also involved in DNA synthesis as it is required for the initial formation of the DNA polymerase-DNA complex, but it does not directly provide energy for the polymerization reactions. The making and breaking of hydrogen bonds between complementary DNA strands are also important for DNA synthesis but do not provide energy for polymerization.