Wasserman S A, Cozzarelli N R
Science. 1986 May 23;232(4753):951-60. doi: 10.1126/science.3010458.
Processes of DNA rearrangement such as recombination or replication frequently have as products different subsets of the limitless number of distinguishable catenanes or knots. The use of gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy for analysis of these topological isomers has made it possible to deduce physical and geometric features of DNA structure and reaction mechanisms that are otherwise experimentally inaccessible. Quantitative as well as qualitative characterization is possible for any pathway in which the fate of a circular DNA can be followed. The history, theory, and techniques are reviewed and illustrative examples from recent studies are presented.
DNA重排过程，如重组或复制，其产物常常是无数可区分的连环体或纽结的不同子集。利用凝胶电泳和电子显微镜分析这些拓扑异构体，使得推断DNA结构的物理和几何特征以及反应机制成为可能，而这些特征和机制在其他情况下是无法通过实验获取的。对于任何能够追踪环状DNA命运的途径，都可以进行定量和定性表征。本文回顾了相关历史、理论和技术，并给出了近期研究的示例。
