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Sci. STKE, 27 June 2006
Vol. 2006, Issue 341, p. tw218
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.3412006tw218]

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TRANSCRIPTION Topo IIβ Gets to Work

DNA topoisomerases regulate conformational changes in DNA topology by catalyzing DNA strand breakage and rejoining. Topoisomerase IIβ (Topo IIβ) alters DNA conformation near gene promoters and associates with sequence-specific transcription factors and chromatin modifying and remodeling factors. Ju et al. now show that DNA Topo IIβ generates double-strand breaks at transcriptional promoters when these genes are activated in a signal-dependent manner. Subsequently, DNA repair enzymes are activated and there is a resultant exchange in histone composition and local chromatin structure.

B.-G. Ju, V. V. Lunyak, V. Perissi, I. Garcia-Bassets, D. W. Rose, C. K. Glass, M. G. Rosenfeld, A topoisomerase IIβ-mediated dsDNA break required for regulated transcription. Science 312, 1798-1802 (2006). [Abstract] [Full Text]

J.-F. Haince, M. Rouleau, G. G. Poirier, Gene expression needs a break to unwind before carrying on. Science 312, 1752-1753 (2006). [Summary] [Full Text]

Citation: Topo IIβ Gets to Work. Sci. STKE 2006, tw218 (2006).

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