Talk:Topoisomerase

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Specific Topoisomerases

Consider adding a list of specific topoisomerases with the type they are: E.g. DNA gyrase - Type II. -Rage italic 17:02, 5 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Aren't Ligases responsible for reconnecting cut DNA parts?!

I have a Biology textbook right in front of me, that claims that Ligases are responsible for reconnecting the DNA parts that Topoisomerases split. As this book has turned out to be on the right side for the most part, I would consider rewriting that part. 84.185.233.56 22:25, 12 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

In general, ligase is responsible for reconnecting breaks in DNA, but this is not always the case. With Topoisomerase I, this enzyme covalently attaches to a DNA phosphate to create a temporary break in the phosphodiester linkage of one strand of a double helix, allowing the other strand to rotate. Because the energy of the original phosphodiester bond is stored in the phosphotyrosine linkage between Topoisomerase I and the cut DNA strand, this reaction is reversible, and the strand can spontaneously reanneal without the aid of ligase. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.192.229.228 (talk) 01:13, 2 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

That is true for type IA, type IIA, and type IIB topoisomerases. They all ligate DNA without the presence of a ligase. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 169.229.195.33 (talk) 21:45, 13 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Discovery section confusion

I don't understand the wording of the first sentence of this section: "The origins of this enzyme predate the discovery of the enzyme." What does that actually mean? Of course the enzyme predates its discovery--should the sentence read "The concept of a topoisomerase predates the actual discovery of this enzyme"? I didn't edit the page directly, since I'm a mathematician, not a geneticist.—Bowenthebeard (talk) 21:22, 1 June 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Substrate binding site

Does the Topoisomerase require a substrate binding site, if so what is the substrate needed for the reaction to occur? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.190.176.83 (talk) 15:06, 12 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Catenation link incorrect.

In the section Topoisomerase#Topological_problems, on the first statement "There are three main types of topology: supercoiling, knotting, and catenation." , the hyperlink on "Catenation", bring us to this-page on Catenation in basic-level chemistry.

Though fundamentally the fundamental origin of the word "catenation" , is catena , that means chain; but in the fundamental chemistry, catenation means the property of atoms of an element to form a long-chain molecule like these:

Decane

We commonly tell as carbon shows very high catenation property, whereas chlorine shows very minute catenation etc.

It has directly nothing to do with "interlock", however in case of molecular biology, the root "catena" often means "interlock" (Such as Catenane is formed at the end of theta type replication of DNA (Circular_bacterial_chromosome#Termination)); because traditionally chain is made up with interlocking metallic objects, like this:

So this hyperlink should be change to a better-one (if there is some article about interlocked rings in topology).

RIT RAJARSHI (talk) 12:29, 19 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Overlooked role of topoisomerases?

The first paragraph does a good job of explaining the overwinding that is produced in front of replication forks, but daughter chromosomes behind a replication fork are produced in an interwound state and they have to be separated if cell division is going to take place. Topoisomerases do this job, too. Should this be touched on? 2001:630:E4:4220:60A6:4242:877E:62AC (talk) 11:40, 24 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Name

Is the name really "Topoisomerase" and not "DNA Topoisomerase"? I do not know myself, but either way, I think it would be helpful if we could add the enzyme specification number e. g. the EC number. 2A02:8388:1603:CB00:3AD5:47FF:FE18:CC7F (talk) 01:00, 10 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]