title: Cellular roles of DNA topoisomerases: a molecular perspective.
abstract: DNA topoisomerases are the magicians of the DNA world   by allowing DNA strands or double helices to pass through each other, they can solve all of the topological problems of DNA in replication, transcription and other cellular transactions. Extensive biochemical and structural studies over the past three decades have provided molecular models of how the various subfamilies of DNA topoisomerase manipulate DNA. In this review, the cellular roles of these enzymes are examined from a molecular point of view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Fairchild Building, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. jcwang@fas.harvard.edu
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004261:DNA Replication; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II