Disruption of a topoisomerase-DNA cleavage complex by a DNA helicase.
The type II DNA topoisomerases are targets for a variety of chemotherapeutic agents, including the antibacterial quinolones and several families of antitumor drugs. These agents stabilize an enzyme-DNA cleavage complex that consists of the topoisomerase covalently linked to the 5' phosphates of a double-stranded DNA break. Although the drug-stabilized cleavage complex is readily reversible, it can result in cell death by a mechanism that remains uncertain. Here we demonstrate that the action of a DNA helicase can convert the cleavage complex into a nonreversible DNA break by displacing DNA strands from the complex. Formation of a nonreversible DNA break, induced by a DNA helicase, could explain the cytotoxicity of these topoisomerase poisons.
Duke Scholars
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Related Subject Headings
- Substrate Specificity
- Protein Binding
- Plasmids
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Models, Structural
- Escherichia coli
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- DNA Topoisomerases, Type II
- DNA Helicases
- Base Sequence
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Substrate Specificity
- Protein Binding
- Plasmids
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Models, Structural
- Escherichia coli
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
- DNA Topoisomerases, Type II
- DNA Helicases
- Base Sequence