Cellular Strategies for Regulating DNA Supercoiling: A Single-Molecule Perspective | Zendy

Daniel A. Koster | Zendy; Aurélien Crut | Zendy; Stewart Shuman | Zendy; MaryAnn Bjornsti | Zendy; Nynke H. Dekker | Zendy

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Cellular Strategies for Regulating DNA Supercoiling: A Single-Molecule Perspective

Author(s) -

Daniel A. Koster,

Aurélien Crut,

Stewart Shuman,

MaryAnn Bjornsti,

Nynke H. Dekker

Publication year - 2010

Publication title -

cell

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 26.304

H-Index - 776

eISSN - 1097-4172

pISSN - 0092-8674

DOI - 10.1016/j.cell.2010.08.001

Subject(s) - dna supercoil , biology , topoisomerase , dna , biophysics , microbiology and biotechnology , dna replication , genetics

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.

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