Which enzyme specifically synthesizes RNA primers during DNA replication?

Primase is the enzyme that specifically synthesizes RNA primers during DNA replication. This process is essential because DNA polymerases, the enzymes responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands, cannot initiate synthesis on their own. They require a short RNA primer to provide a starting point.

During replication, primase synthesizes these short RNA primers complementary to the DNA template strand. This primer enables DNA polymerases to attach and begin elongating the new DNA strand by adding DNA nucleotides. The primers are later removed and replaced with DNA nucleotides to produce a continuous DNA strand.

Having primase at this stage of replication is critical for accurately starting the replication process. Without it, DNA replication would not initiate properly, leading to incomplete or erroneous DNA synthesis. This sets primase apart from other enzymes involved in the replication process, which serve different functions such as sealing gaps in the DNA (DNA ligase) or introducing negative supercoils (gyrase).