TOPOISOMERASE IV Meaning and
Definition
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Topoisomerase IV is an essential enzyme found in bacterial cells that plays a crucial role in DNA replication, recombination, and repair. It is a type II topoisomerase and belongs to the family of DNA gyrase enzymes. Topoisomerases are responsible for controlling the topological state of DNA by facilitating the breaking and rejoining of DNA strands.
Specifically, Topoisomerase IV works by modifying the supercoiling of DNA during cell division and chromosome segregation. It helps to alleviate the torsional stress caused by replication and decatenate sister chromatids after DNA replication, ensuring the faithful separation of daughter chromosomes. The enzyme exhibits DNA cleavage and religation activities, allowing it to introduce double-strand breaks and rearrange DNA topology.
Topoisomerase IV consists of two protein subunits, ParC and ParE, which form a heterotetrameric complex. ParC contains the DNA-breaking site, while ParE is responsible for ATP hydrolysis. The binding and hydrolysis of ATP provide the energy required for the enzyme to carry out its catalytic functions.
Inhibition of Topoisomerase IV has been a target for antibacterial drug development. Certain antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones, work by inhibiting this enzyme, leading to the accumulation of double-strand breaks and DNA damage, eventually causing bacterial cell death. Understanding the structure and function of Topoisomerase IV has significant implications in the field of molecular biology and the development of antimicrobial therapeutics.
Common Misspellings for TOPOISOMERASE IV
Etymology of TOPOISOMERASE IV
The word "topoisomerase" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "topos" meaning "place" or "position", and "isomerase" which refers to an enzyme that catalyzes isomerization reactions. Therefore, "topoisomerase" can be understood as an enzyme that acts on the topology or configuration of DNA.
The numeral "IV" in "topoisomerase IV" indicates that it is the fourth type or variant of the topoisomerase enzyme that was discovered. The system of Roman numerals is often used to classify and differentiate between multiple variants or isoforms of a given protein or enzyme family.
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