InterPro: IPR013498 DNA topoisomerase, type IA, zn finger

DNA topoisomerases regulate the number of topological links between two DNA strands (i.e. change the number of superhelical turns) by catalysing transient single- or double-strand breaks, crossing the strands through one another, then resealing the breaks. These enzymes have several functions: to remove DNA supercoils during transcription and DNA replication; for strand breakage during recombination; for chromosome condensation; and to disentangle intertwined DNA during mitosis [1, 2]. DNA topoisomerases are divided into two classes: type I enzymes (EC:5.99.1.2; topoisomerases I, III and V) break single-strand DNA, and type II enzymes (EC:5.99.1.3; topoisomerases II, IV and VI) break double-strand DNA [3].

Type I topoisomerases are ATP-independent enzymes (except for reverse gyrase), and can be subdivided according to their structure and reaction mechanisms: type IA (bacterial and archaeal topoisomerase I, topoisomerase III and reverse gyrase) and type IB (eukaryotic topoisomerase I and topoisomerase V). These enzymes are primarily responsible for relaxing positively and/or negatively supercoiled DNA, except for reverse gyrase, which can introduce positive supercoils into DNA.

This entry represents the zinc-finger domain found in type IA topoisomerases, including bacterial and archaeal topoisomerase I and III enzymes, and in eukaryotic topoisomerase III enzymes. Escherichia coli topoisomerase I proteins contain five copies of a zinc-ribbon-like domain at their C terminus, two of which have lost their cysteine residues and are therefore probably not able to bind zinc [4]. This domain is still considered to be a member of the zinc-ribbon superfamily despite not being able to bind zinc.

More information about this protein can be found at Protein of the Month: DNA Topoisomerase [5].