Role of Topoisomerase I and Topoisomerase II in DNA topology
Topoisomerase is a class of enzyme which helps in winding and unwinding of DNA. Three forms of DNA is most prevalent in nature: circular, linear and supercoiled.
Linear DNA molecules have free ends on both side, hence linear DNA has free 5’-P and free 3’-OH groups present on two opposite ends. Generally, linear DNA is found in bacteria and cytoplasmic DNA of some algae.
Supercoiled DNA is made up of twists and writhes. Eukaryotic DNA is supercoiled and helps in the packaging of DNA on chromatid.
In simple words, when DNA undergo additional twisting and coiling on each other, it is called as supercoiling. As eukaryotic DNA is longer and contains more base pairs, it is important to develop a supercoiled form.
Supercoiling gives a compact arrangement to DNA which is necessary to place it in the nucleus, but supercoiling has one drawback. It hinders replication and transcription.
Recall the process of replication, DNA helicase unwinds the double strand of DNA which increases tension on an unwinded double strand of DNA. DNA topoisomerase helps in removing tension from remaining unreplicated DNA.
Two types of DNA topoisomerase enzymes are prevalently found as per their function. Both perform a different function during the different stage of coiling and supercoiling.
Double-stranded DNA is arranged in a helix. This spiral arrangement of dsDNA increases tension inside the double strand which tightens the double helix. DNA topoisomerase-I works in the unwinding of double-stranded DNA. Here topoisomerase-I cuts one strand of DNA and allows another strand to pass through cut and rejoins the end.
After each topoisomerase-I activity, double-stranded DNA unwinds and linking number of DNA is changed in a single step. Additionally, topoI is ATP independent, which means it does not require ATP as an energy source for completing its function.
DNA topoI is subdivided into topo IA and topo IB. Topo IA is generally bacterial topoisomerase whereas topo IB is eukaryotic topoisomerase. Prokaryotic DNA topoisomerase can only relax negatively supercoiled DNA, in contrast, eukaryotic topoisomerase can relax positively supercoiled DNA and replicating DNA.
Read the article: DNA Replication class 1: The General process of DNA replication
DNA topoisomerase II
DNA topoisomerase II is ATP dependent enzyme which required 2 ATP molecule per reaction. It acts of entire double-stranded DNA, cut it and rejoin it. Topo II relaxes positive supercoiling in eukaryotic DNA.
One special type of DNA topoisomerase II found in prokaryote named as “DNA gyrase” introduces supercoiling in bacterial DNA. DNA gyrase performs both functions of releasing as well as introducing negative supercoiling in bacterial DNA.
Another important function is performed by topoII, are catenation and de-catenation. Imagine two linked rings. DNA molecules are catenated in the same manner. Here topoisomerase cut the dsDNA and decatenate it for relaxing. Further, it catenates the decatenated DNA for supercoiling.
The process of decatenation is a very important process as it allows separation of the DNA molecule into two daughter cells, after replication.
Mechanism of action
Topoisomerase cleaves and ligates DNA in a single reaction and without the use of any energy. But for completion of any biological reaction, energy must require. Than how topoisomerase performs this function without any energy?
Here topoisomerases perform covalent intermediate interaction mechanism. Topoisomerase interacts as an intermediate between two ends the broken DNA strand. When a DNA molecule is broken, the phosphodiester bond between the DNA molecule is also broken.
The tyrosine residue of activated topoisomerase attacks directly the phosphodiester bonds of broken DNA. The tyrosine is now bound with the phosphate of the broken DNA strand at -5′ end. The other -3’OH end remain free and held by topoisomerase domain.
The interaction between tyrosine of active topoisomerase and phosphate of DNA is weak covalent and it conserves energy for rejoining strands. Another strand (in case of topoisomerase I) or another double helix (in case of topoisomerase II) passed through the broken end. Here the free -OH group destroys the weak intermediate covalent bond between phosphate and tyrosine (of topoisomerase) and rejoined with phosphate by a phosphodiester bond.
Topoisomerase is released from the site of action and moves to another site for performing another reaction. Importantly, energy molecule is not utilized by any topoisomerase. Then what happens with ATP molecule which is consumed by topoisomerase-II? The energy of ATP hydrolysis is used to promote conformational changes in topoisomerase-DNA complex, not for cleaving and ligating.
Attend class: Mutation
Enzyme open bridge
Conformational changes in the shape of the enzyme are very important for relaxing DNA molecule. here the energy from ATP hydrolysis (in the case of topo II) is utilized to perform this function.
In the first step, the enzyme recognizes the DNA molecule as a substrate and binds to it. More specifically, its affinity is higher in case of supercoiled DNA.
Now in the second step, tyrosine dependent activity leads to create a gap between a DNA strand and covalently binds to phosphate. Here the enzyme opens both the end by making the conformational change in its shape and creates a bridge for another strand to pass through it.
In next step, the intact DNA strand is passed through it and one special domain of topoisomerase held DNA strand until the bridge is closed and broken DNA stand is joined.
At last one final time, the enzyme opens up and releases the active site and move to another site. The mechanism is similar in both types of topoisomerase. But topoisomerase-I passes a single strand and topoisomerase-II passes double-stranded DNA.
Additionally, topoisomerase-II is dimeric or tetrameric because it has to work on breaking and ligating both strands of DNA. Energy (in the form of ATP) is required for making conformational changes in this extra domains.
Topoisomerase maintains the speed of replication by unwinding DNA and releasing tension. Supercoiled DNA has twist and writhes which makes it complex. We will discuss twists, writhes, cccDNA and linking number in next article.
Attend class: Immunogenetics
Article written by: Tushar Chauhan
Article reviewed by: Tushar Kachhadiya