Which enzyme catalyzes the following reaction? Gap 5' - G G-A-T-C-C—3' ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ 3' - C-C-T-A-G G—5' Gap 5' - G-G-A-T-C-C—3' ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ ⋮ 3' - C-C-T-A-G-G—5'
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: DNA ligase. DNA ligase catalyzes the joining of two DNA strands by forming a phosphodiester bond between the 3' hydroxyl of one nucleotide and the 5' phosphate of another. In the given reaction, the enzyme is needed to seal the nick in the DNA strands after the Okazaki fragments have been synthesized during DNA replication.
Explanation of other choices:
B: DNA endonuclease - Endonucleases cleave the phosphodiester bond within a polynucleotide chain, not join two DNA strands.
C: None of the options are correct - This is incorrect as DNA ligase is the correct enzyme for this reaction.
D: DNA polymerase 1 - DNA polymerase synthesizes new DNA strands by adding nucleotides to the 3' end of the growing chain, not joining two DNA strands.