title: New insights into DNA-binding by type IIA topoisomerases.
abstract: Type IIA topoisomerases catalyze the passage of two DNA duplexes across each other to resolve the entanglements and coiling of cellular DNA. The ability of these enzymes to interact simultaneously but differentially with two DNA segments is central to their DNA-manipulating functions: one duplex DNA is bound and cleaved to produce a transient double-strand break through which another DNA segment can be transported. Recent structural analyses have revealed in atomic detail how type IIA enzymes contact DNA and how the enzyme-DNA interactions may be exploited by drugs to achieve therapeutic purposes. This review summarizes these new findings, with a special focus on the assembly and structural features of the enzymes' composite DNA-binding surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chiang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ying-Ren
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shin-Fu
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chyuan-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Nei-Li
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007532:Isoleucine; D011485:Protein Binding; D054730:Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
chemical_list: D007532:Isoleucine; D004247:DNA; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II