Nitiss J L
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Molecular Pharmacology Department, 332 N. Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 1998 Oct 1;1400(1-3):63-81. doi: 10.1016/s0167-4781(98)00128-6.
DNA topoisomerases participate in nearly all events relating to DNA metabolism including replication, transcription, and chromosome segregation. Recent studies in eukaryotic cells have led to the discovery of several novel topoisomerases, and to new questions concerning the roles of these enzymes in cellular processes. Gene knockout studies are helping to delineate the roles of topoisomerases in mammalian cells, just as similar studies in yeast established paradigms concerning the functions of topoisomerases in lower eukaryotes. The application of new technologies for identifying interacting proteins has connected the studies on topoisomerases to other areas of human biology including genome stability and aging. These studies highlight the importance of understanding how topoisomerases participate in the normal processes of transcription, DNA replication, and genome stability.
DNA拓扑异构酶几乎参与了与DNA代谢相关的所有事件，包括复制、转录和染色体分离。最近在真核细胞中的研究导致了几种新型拓扑异构酶的发现，并引发了关于这些酶在细胞过程中作用的新问题。基因敲除研究有助于阐明拓扑异构酶在哺乳动物细胞中的作用，正如在酵母中的类似研究确立了拓扑异构酶在低等真核生物中的功能范式一样。用于鉴定相互作用蛋白的新技术的应用，已将对拓扑异构酶的研究与人类生物学的其他领域联系起来，包括基因组稳定性和衰老。这些研究凸显了理解拓扑异构酶如何参与转录、DNA复制和基因组稳定性正常过程的重要性。
