What is the role of DNA polymerase during DNA synthesis? a. DNA polymerase provides the free energy to catalyze the endergonic addition of a nucleotide onto the 3' end of a growing DNA strand. b. DNA polymerase is the enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a nucleotide onto the 3' end of a growing DNA strand. c. DNA polymerase removes inorganic phosphate from the template strand of DNA to catalyze the polymerization reaction. d. DNA polymerase catalyzes the synthesis of the template strand of DNA.

DNA polymerase is the enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a nucleotide onto the 3' end of a growing DNA strand.

Explanation:

DNA polymerase is the enzyme of DNA replication that makes new DNA strands by using the existing DNA strand as a template. During the process, DNA polymerase requires to primer with free 3' OH group to add deoxyribonucleotides complementary to the sequence of the template DNA strand. The enzyme moves along the template strand and catalyzes the formation of a phosphodiester bond between the incoming deoxyribonucleotide and the deoxyribonucleotide present at the 3' end of the growing strand.

Here, the 3' OH group present at the 3' end of the growing strand serves as a nucleophile and a covalent bond is formed between it and 5' phosphate of the incoming deoxyribonucleotide. Thereby, the enzyme DNA polymerase catalyzes the addition of deoxyribonucleotides to the free 3' end of the growing strand.