You Are Working with a Strain of E

Multiple Choice

You are working with a strain of E. coli that has a mutation in the DNA polymerase II gene, such that the encoded protein is exonuclease deficient, but is otherwise normal. How do you predict that this would most likely affect the activity of this enzyme?

A) This mutation would prevent the ability of DNA polymerase II to engage in lagging strand synthesis.
B) This mutation would prevent the ability of DNA polymerase II to form phosphodiester bonds between nucleotides.
C) This mutation would prevent the ability of DNA polymerase II to remove RNA nucleotides in the 5' to 3' direction.
D) This mutation would prevent the ability of DNA polymerase II to remove DNA nucleotides that are damaged.