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Updated: May 17, 2026

Simple and Fast Rolling Circle Amplification-Based Detection of Topoisomerase 1 Activity in Crude Biological Samples
Published on: December 2, 2022
Interaction between natural compounds and human topoisomerase I
Silvia Castelli1, Andrea Coletta, Ilda D'Annessa
1Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica, I-00133 Rome, Italy.
This review explores how natural compounds interact with human topoisomerase I (Top1), an enzyme crucial for DNA processes. It highlights assays to identify how these compounds, including camptothecin, inhibit Top1 activity.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Eukaryotic topoisomerase I (Top1) is essential for DNA topology management during replication and transcription.
- Human Top1 is a key target for camptothecin (CPT), a potent anticancer drug derived from plants.
- Understanding Top1 interactions is vital for developing novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the interactions between human Top1 and various natural compounds.
- To discuss how these compounds affect Top1's catalytic functions.
- To focus on assays used to determine the specific inhibition step of Top1 by natural products.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on Top1 and natural compound interactions.
- Analysis of biochemical assays used to study enzyme inhibition.
- Categorization of natural compounds based on their interaction with Top1.
Main Results:
- Identified several classes of natural compounds (terpenoids, flavonoids, stilbenes, fatty acids) that interact with human Top1.
- Demonstrated that these compounds can perturb Top1 at different catalytic stages: binding, cleavage, rotation, or religation.
- Highlighted the utility of various assays in pinpointing the precise mechanism of inhibition.
Conclusions:
- Natural compounds offer diverse mechanisms for inhibiting human Top1.
- Specific assays are crucial for characterizing the mode of action of Top1 inhibitors.
- Further research into these interactions could lead to new drug development for cancer and other diseases.
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