Regulation of DNA topology in mycobacteria

Abstract

DNA topoisomerases catalyse essential DNA transaction processes in order to attain the balanced topology of the genome. Contrasting activities of DNA topoisomerase I and DNA gyrase result in the maintenance of topological homeostasis. The regulation of expression of different topoisomerases ensure steady state optimum level expression of the enzymes. Many aspects of their organization and regulation seem to be different in mycobacteria when compared with that of Escherichia coli. Here we present several aspects of the regulation of mycobacterial topoisomerases and discuss the significance.