When a nucleotide binds, the fingers domain rotates 60° toward the palm, with the tops of the fingers moving by 30 Å. The thumb domain also rotates toward the palm by 8°.
These changes are cyclical:
They are reversed when the nucleotide is incorporated into the DNA chain, which then translocates through the enzyme to recreate an empty site.
#Unit 3. Fundamental Processes#Mechanism of DNA synthesis in Prokaryotes#Part B Pointers
