Friction and torque govern the relaxation of DNA supercoils by eukaryotic topoisomerase IB

Daniel A. Koster, Vincent Croquette, Cees Dekker, Stewart Shuman and Nynke H. Dekker ()
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Daniel A. Koster: Delft University of Technology
Vincent Croquette: Ecole Normale Supérieure
Cees Dekker: Delft University of Technology
Stewart Shuman: Sloan-Kettering Institute
Nynke H. Dekker: Delft University of Technology

Nature, 2005, vol. 434, issue 7033, 671-674

Abstract: Torque about DNA The manoeuvres involved in replication and transcription lead to a build-up of twisting or torsional strain in DNA, and the job of relieving the strain falls to the topoisomerases. Type IB topoisomerases (TopIBs) cut one DNA strand, allow it to swivel around its partner, then rejoin the ends. This removes both positive and negative supercoils. Direct monitoring of a single TopIB molecule now shows that, unlike other topoisomerases, it does not remove a fixed number of supercoils. Rather, the number of supercoils removed, via a mechanism involving friction between rotating DNA and the enzyme cavity, depends on the torque stored in the DNA. The introduction of friction as a factor in DNA–topoisomerase interactions may have important implications for DNA–enzyme interactions in general. The cover depicts TopIB in action.

Date: 2005
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DOI: 10.1038/nature03395

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