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Hardin AH, et al.  (2011) Direct measurement of DNA bending by type IIA topoisomerases: implications for non-equilibrium topology simplification. Nucleic Acids Res 39(13):5729-43

Abstract: Type IIA topoisomerases modify DNA topology by passing one segment of duplex DNA (transfer or T-segment) through a transient double-strand break in a second segment of DNA (gate or G-segment) in an ATP-dependent reaction. Type IIA topoisomerases decatenate, unknot and relax supercoiled DNA to levels below equilibrium, resulting in global topology simplification. The mechanism underlying this non-equilibrium topology simplification remains speculative. The bend angle model postulates that non-equilibrium topology simplification scales with the bend angle imposed on the G-segment DNA by the binding of a type IIA topoisomerase. To test this bend angle model, we used atomic force microscopy and single-molecule Forster resonance energy transfer to measure the extent of bending imposed on DNA by three type IIA topoisomerases that span the range of topology simplification activity. We found that Escherichia coli topoisomerase IV, yeast topoisomerase II and human topoisomerase IIa each bend DNA to a similar degree. These data suggest that DNA bending is not the sole determinant of non-equilibrium topology simplification. Rather, they suggest a fundamental and conserved role for DNA bending in the enzymatic cycle of type IIA topoisomerases.

Status: Published

Type: Journal Article

PubMed ID: 21421557

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Hardin AH Sarkar SK Seol Y Liou GF Osheroff N Neuman KC Papers in SGD Colleagues in SGD PubMed Google Scholar

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