Abstract

DNA supercoiling plays essential role in maintaining proper chromosome structure, as well as the equilibrium between genome dynamics and stability under specific physicochemical and physiological conditions. In mesophilic organisms, DNA is negatively supercoiled and, until recently, positive supercoiling was considered a peculiar mark of (hyper)thermophilic archaea needed to survive high temperatures. However, several lines of evidence suggest that negative and positive supercoiling might coexist in both (hyper)thermophilic and mesophilic organisms, raising the possibility that positive supercoiling might serve as a regulator of various cellular events, such as chromosome condensation, gene expression, mitosis, sister chromatid cohesion, centromere identity and telomere homoeostasis.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.