Supercoiled DNA: Structure

Bowater, Richard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2745-7807 (2015) Supercoiled DNA: Structure. eLS.

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Abstract

Supercoiling is introduced into DNA molecules when the double helix is twisted around its own axis in three‐dimensional space. Experimental techniques that are sensitive to molecular shape can be used to analyse the topological states of DNA, but the approaches used most successfully are high-speed centrifugation, high-resolution microscopy and gel electrophoresis. Generally, DNA molecules are negatively supercoiled inside cells, although the level of supercoiling is not equal throughout the genome and many supercoils may be constrained by bound proteins. Supercoiling increases the free energy of DNA and influences DNA metabolism by promoting or hindering specific enzymatic processes. DNA topoisomerases are the main enzymes that regulate DNA topology and several different types of enzymes are present in all cells.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	deoxyribonucleic acid,supercoiled dna,genome,dna topology,dna topoisomerases
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Biological Sciences
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Molecular Microbiology Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Centre for Molecular and Structural Biochemistry Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Biosciences Teaching and Education Research
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2015 23:18
Last Modified:	19 Dec 2024 00:48
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/53479
DOI:	10.1002/9780470015902.a0001040.pub3

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