supercoiling

(noun)

The coiling of the DNA helix upon itself; can cause disruption to transcription and lead to cell death.

Related Terms

  • DNA
  • chromosome

Examples of supercoiling in the following topics:

  • Supercoiling

    • Such a contortion is a supercoil.
    • Extra helical twists are positive and lead to positive supercoiling, while subtractive twisting causes negative supercoiling.
    • DNA of most organisms is negatively supercoiled.
    • In eukaryotes, DNA supercoiling exists on many levels of both plectonemic and solenoidal supercoils, with the solenoidal supercoiling proving the most effective in compacting the DNA.
    • These SMC proteins induce positive supercoils.
  • DNA Packaging

    • The DNA is twisted by what is known as supercoiling.
    • Supercoiling means that DNA is either under-wound (less than one turn of the helix per 10 base pairs) or over-wound (more than 1 turn per 10 base pairs) from its normal relaxed state.
    • Some proteins are known to be involved in the supercoiling; other proteins and enzymes such as DNA gyrase help in maintaining the supercoiled structure.
  • Bacterial Chromosomes in the Nucleoid

    • Proteins helping to maintain the supercoiled structure of the nucleic acid are known as nucleoid proteins or nucleoid-associated proteins, and are distinct from histones of eukaryotic nuclei.
    • The genophore is compacted through a mechanism known as supercoiling, but a chromosome is additionally compacted through the use of chromatin.
  • DNA Replication in Prokaryotes

    • Topoisomerase breaks and reforms DNA's phosphate backbone ahead of the replication fork, thereby relieving the pressure that results from this supercoiling.
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