How does alkylation prevent DNA replication?

Alkylation refers to the addition of alkyl groups (such as methyl or ethyl groups) to DNA. This can interfere with DNA replication in several ways. Alkylation can cause DNA to form abnormal structures or create bulky adducts, which hinder the normal process of DNA unwinding and strand separation. This can lead to errors during replication, as DNA polymerase may not be able to properly read the altered DNA sequence. Additionally, alkylation-induced damage can trigger repair mechanisms, which may stall or prevent the replication process if the damage is not repaired in time.