title: The benefit of DNA supercoiling during replication.
abstract: DNA topology changes dynamically during DNA replication. Supercoiling, precatenation, catenation and knotting interplay throughout the process that is finely regulated by DNA topoisomerases. In the present article, we provide an overview of theoretical and experimental approaches to understand the interplay between various manifestations of topological constraints acting on replicating DNA molecules. Data discussed reveal that DNA entanglements (supercoils and catenanes) play an active role in preventing the formation of deleterious knots.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain. schvartzman@cib.csic.es
authors.forename: Jorge B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Schvartzman
authors.forename: María-Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Martínez-Robles
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Dora B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Krimer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004261:DNA Replication; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV / Q000378:metabolism; D043864:DNA, Catenated / Q000737:chemistry; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D043864:DNA, Catenated; D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D027101:DNA Topoisomerase IV