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Related Concept Videos

DNA Topoisomerases02:02

DNA Topoisomerases

Topoisomerases are enzymes that relax overwound DNA molecules during various cell processes, including DNA replication and transcription. These enzymes regulate positive and negative DNA supercoiling without changing the nucleotide sequence. DNA overwinding in a clockwise direction results in positively supercoiled DNA, whereas underwinding in a counterclockwise direction produces negatively supercoiled DNA.
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types.  Type I...
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Caspases

Caspase, a family of cysteine proteases, serve as effectors in apoptosis. The ced3 gene in C.elegans was first identified to be involved in apoptosis. This gene encodes the ced-3 caspase that is similar to the interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme or ICE in mammals. In addition to apoptosis, caspases also function in the inflammatory response. Inflammatory caspases are essential in activating pro-inflammatory cytokines that recruit immune cells and block the replication of pathogens inside cells.
Restarting Stalled Replication Forks02:37

Restarting Stalled Replication Forks

DNA replication is initiated at sites containing predefined DNA sequences known as origins of replication. DNA is unwound at these sites by the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) helicase and other factors such as Cdc45 and the associated GINS complex.The unwound single strands are protected by replication protein A (RPA) until DNA polymerase starts synthesizing DNA at the 5’ end of the strand in the same direction as the replication fork. To prevent the replication fork from falling apart, a...
SNAREs and Membrane Fusion01:43

SNAREs and Membrane Fusion

Once a transport vesicle has recognized its target organelle, the vesicular membrane needs to fuse with the target membrane to unload the cargo. Transmembrane proteins called SNAREs present on organelle membranes and their vesicles, mediate vesicle fusion.
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Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation02:53

Conservative Site-specific Recombination and Phase Variation

Because the DNA segments are cut and reorganized in a direction-specific manner, site-specific recombination has emerged as an efficient genetic engineering technique. Flippase and Cyclization recombinases or Flp and Cre, respectively, are two members of the tyrosine recombinase family derived from bacteriophages, that are used to mediate site-specific DNA insertions, deletions, and targeted expression of proteins in mammalian cell lines.
The recognition sites for Cre recombinase called LoxP...
The Replisome03:01

The Replisome

DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A G-quadruplex DNA-affinity Approach for Purification of Enzymatically Active G4 Resolvase1
11:25

A G-quadruplex DNA-affinity Approach for Purification of Enzymatically Active G4 Resolvase1

Published on: March 18, 2017

Orchestrating serine resolvases.

Phoebe A Rice1, Kent W Mouw, Sherwin P Montaño

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, 929 E. 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60615, USA. PRice@uchicago.edu

Biochemical Society Transactions
|March 20, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Serine resolvases regulate DNA recombination through a complex called the synaptosome. This structure acts as a topological filter, enabling directional strand exchange by releasing supercoiling tension.

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Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

A G-quadruplex DNA-affinity Approach for Purification of Enzymatically Active G4 Resolvase1
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Published on: March 18, 2017

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Serine resolvases exhibit unique regulatory properties, catalyzing only intra-molecular recombination and sensing DNA site orientation without net energy release.
  • Enzyme activity is contingent upon formation of a large, intertwined complex known as the 'synaptosome'.
  • Substrate topology influences synaptosome formation, acting as a critical 'topological filter'.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of serine resolvases.
  • To model the complete synaptic complex and understand its activation process.
  • To investigate the role of the regulatory portion in activating recombinases.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography to determine structural details.
  • Biochemical assays to study enzyme activity and interactions.
  • Genetic approaches to analyze regulatory functions.

Main Results:

  • The synaptosome complex is essential for serine recombinase activity and regulation.
  • Substrate topology dictates synaptosome formation, influencing reaction directionality.
  • Supercoiling tension release within the synaptosome provides energy for directional strand exchange.
  • The regulatory portion, containing additional recombinase or DNA-bending proteins, plays a key role in enzyme activation.

Conclusions:

  • Serine resolvases are regulated by their assembly into a synaptosome, which filters substrates based on topology.
  • The synaptosome utilizes supercoiling energy for directional DNA strand exchange.
  • Understanding the structure and function of the regulatory portion is crucial for deciphering serine recombinase mechanisms.