Cellular strategies for regulating DNA supercoiling: a single-molecule perspective.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 20723754.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2010.08.001 and PMC identifier 2997354.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
Entangling and twisting of cellular DNA (i.e., supercoiling) are problems inherent to the helical structure of double-stranded DNA. Supercoiling affects transcription, DNA replication, and chromosomal segregation. Consequently the cell must fine-tune supercoiling to optimize these key processes. Here, we summarize how supercoiling is generated and review experimental and theoretical insights into supercoil relaxation. We distinguish between the passive dissipation of supercoils by diffusion and the active removal of supercoils by topoisomerase enzymes. We also review single-molecule studies that elucidate the timescales and mechanisms of supercoil removal.
Medical subject headings
- DNA Topoisomerases, Type I
- DNA, Superhelical