title: Assessing sensitivity to antibacterial topoisomerase II inhibitors.
abstract: Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have two major classes of topoisomerases that make transient single- or double-strand cuts in DNA. While these enzymes play critical roles in cellular processes, they are also important targets of therapeutic agents. This unit describes assays to use in characterizing topoisomerase II-targeting agents in vitro and in bacterial cells. It provides protocols for characterizing the action of small molecules against bacterial type II topoisomerases in vitro and the in vivo effects of putative topoisomerase II-targeting antibiotics, as well as for measuring trapped enzyme/DNA covalent complexes, the major cytotoxic lesion induced by fluoroquinolones.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Sonia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Morgan-Linnell
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiasa
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zechiedrich
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nitiss
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors