title: Microbial DNA topoisomerases and their inhibition by antibiotics.
abstract: Supercoiling of bacterial DNA is regulated by topoisomerases and influences most of the metabolic processes involving DNA. The present review is devoted to a brief outline of the supercoiled state of DNA in bacteria and to all microbial topoisomerases hitherto described. Recent studies on topoisomerases of archaebacteria led to the discovery of a so-called reverse gyrase, the properties of which are also discussed. Special emphasis is given to a selective treatment of the effects of those antibiotics which act as gyrase inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Störl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Störl
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors