title: Plasmid DNA topology assayed by two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis.
abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) agarose gel electrophoresis is nowadays one of the best methods available to analyze DNA molecules with different masses and shapes. The possibility to use nicking enzymes and intercalating agents to change the twist of DNA during only one or in both runs, improves the capacity of 2D gels to discern molecules that apparently may look alike. Here we present protocols where 2D gels are used to understand the structure of DNA molecules and its dynamics in living cells. This knowledge is essential to comprehend how DNA topology affects and is affected by all the essential functions that DNA is involved in: replication, transcription, repair and recombination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
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: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000235:genetics; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D010957:Plasmids / Q000737:chemistry*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA