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Enzymes that push DNA around

Nature Structural Biology volume 6, pages 900–902 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

DNA topoisomerases are proteins that regulate DNA topology in cells through selective cycles of DNA cleavage, manipulation, and religation. Two papers describe an ensemble of different protein conformations and nucleotide–protein complexes of Escherichia coli topoisomerase. These results lead to new insights about how this enzyme recognizes DNA and catalyzes supercoil relaxation.

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Figure 1: Structures of three types of DNA topoisomerases.
Figure 2: Schematic diagram showing the different means by which topoisomerases can catalyze changes in DNA topology:
Figure 3: Cartoon diagram of a model for the E. coli DNA topoisomerase I reaction mechanism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, 229 Stanley Hall-#3206, Berkeley, 94720, California, USA

    James L. Keck & James M. Berger

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  1. James L. Keck
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  2. James M. Berger
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Correspondence to James M. Berger.

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Keck, J., Berger, J. Enzymes that push DNA around. Nat Struct Mol Biol 6, 900–902 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/13260

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