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Microbial DNA topoisomerases and their inhibition by antibiotics
Author(s) -
Zimmer C.,
Störl K.,
Störl J.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.3620300312
Subject(s) - dna gyrase , dna supercoil , topoisomerase , dna , antibiotics , topoisomerase iv , novobiocin , circular bacterial chromosome , bacteria , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biochemistry , genetics , dna replication , escherichia coli , gene
Supercoiling of bacterial DNA is regulated by topoisomerases and influences most of the metabolic processes involving DNA. The present review is devoted to a brief outline of the supercoiled state of DNA in bacteria and to all microbial topoisomerases hitherto described. Recent studies on topoisomerases of archaebacteria led to the discovery of a so‐called reverse gyrase, the properties of which are also discussed. Special emphasis is given to a selective treatment of the effects of those antibiotics which act as gyrase inhibitors.