Most bacteria possess two type IIA topoisomerases, DNA gyrase and topo IV, that together help manage chromosome integrity and topology. Gyrase primarily introduces negative supercoils into DNA, an activity mediated by the C-terminal domain of its DNA binding subunit (GyrA). Although closely related to gyrase, topo IV preferentially decatenates DNA and relaxes positive supercoils. Here we report...

Buruli ulcer disease is a neglected necrotizing and disabling cutaneous tropical illness caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (Mul). Fluoroquinolone (FQ), used in the treatment of this disease, has been known to act inhibiting enzymatic activities DNA gyrase; however, detailed molecular basis these characteristics FQ resistance mechanisms Mul remains unknown. In study investigated mechanism gyrase ...

DNA gyrase is a bacterial motor protein in a class known as topoisomerases, which are responsible for controlling the topological properties of DNA (e.g. amount of supercoiling or catenation). Most topoisomerases can relax supercoiled DNA, which is an energetically favourable process. DNA gyrase is unique amongst this class, because it can introduce supercoils as well as remove them. To wind or...

We have found that purified T4 DNA topoisomerase promotes recombination between two phage lambda DNA molecules in an in vitro system. In this cross, T4 DNA topoisomerase alone is able to catalyze the recombination and produce a linear monomer recombinant DNA that can be packaged in vitro. ATP is not required for this recombination, while oxolinic acid stimulates it. The recombinant DNA molecule...

The bacterial type II topoisomerases DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are validated targets for clinically useful quinolone antimicrobial drugs. A significant limitation to widely utilized quinolone inhibitors is the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria due to an altered DNA gyrase. To address this problem, we have used structure-based molecular docking to identify novel drug-like small molecule...

Microcin B17 (MccB17) is a post-translationally modified peptide containing thiazole and oxazole heterocycles that interrupt the peptide backbone. MccB17 is capable of poisoning DNA gyrase through stabilization of the gyrase-DNA cleavage complex and has therefore attracted significant attention. Using a combination of Fmoc-strategy solid-phase peptide synthesis and solution-phase fragment assem...

Type 2A DNA topoisomerases (Topo2A) remodel DNA topology during replication, transcription and chromosome segregation. These multisubunit enzymes catalyze the transport of a double-stranded DNA through a transient break formed in another duplex. The bacterial DNA gyrase, a target for broad-spectrum antibiotics, is the sole Topo2A enzyme able to introduce negative supercoils. We reveal here for ...

A rapid single step immunoaffinity purification procedure is described for Mycobacterium smegmatis DNA gyrase. The mycobacterial enzyme is a 340 kDa heterotetrameric protein comprising two subunits each of GyrA and GyrB, exhibiting subtle differences and similarities to the well-characterised Escherichia coli gyrase. In contrast to E.coli gyrase, the M.smegmatis enzyme exhibits strong decatenas...

The bacteriophage Mu strong gyrase site (SGS) is required for efficient replicative transposition and functions by promoting the synapsis of prophage termini. To look for other sites which could substitute for the SGS in promoting Mu replication, we have replaced the SGS in the middle of the Mu genome with fragments of DNA from various sources. A central fragment from the transposing virus D108...

Topoisomerases (topos) maintain DNA topology and influence DNA transaction processes by catalysing relaxation, supercoiling and decatenation reactions. In the cellular milieu, division of labour between different topos ensures topological homeostasis and control of central processes. In Escherichia coli, DNA gyrase is the principal enzyme that carries out negative supercoiling, while topo IV ca...