Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: vj_tu on 20/01/2006 18:56:22

Title: DNA Polymerase needs Mn2+?
Post by: vj_tu on 20/01/2006 18:56:22

I was wondering if DNA polymerase specifically requires Mg2+ for its activity or it can work with any kinds of divalent cations eg. Mn2+ or Co2+?

Title: Re: DNA Polymerase needs Mn2+?
Post by: rosy on 20/01/2006 20:17:46

Usually, a requirement for a metal atom is specific (I don't know of any counterexamples), different atoms have different sizes and therefore fit different sized gaps and they also have different electron orbital occupancies and energies.
We're talking about a chemical reaction here, and they tend to be pretty subtle, especially the biological ones!