Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

16:24
Analyzing and Building Nucleic Acid Structures with 3DNA
Published on: April 26, 2013
Topological aspects of DNA function and protein folding
Andrzej Stasiak1, Andrew D Bates, Dorothy E Buck
1Center for Integrative Genomics, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. andrzej.stasiak@unil.ch
Biochemical Society Transactions
|March 22, 2013
Summary
This meeting explored how topology, a branch of mathematics, is crucial for understanding DNA structure and protein folding. It highlighted interdisciplinary research connecting biology, physics, and mathematics.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Computational Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Topology offers novel mathematical frameworks for analyzing complex biological structures.
- Understanding DNA and protein folding is fundamental to molecular biology and disease research.
- Interdisciplinary approaches are vital for advancing complex scientific problems.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Folding
Overview
Protein Folding
Proteins are chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Upon synthesis, a protein folds into a three-dimensional conformation, critical to its biological function. Interactions between its constituent amino acids guide protein folding, and hence the protein structure is primarily dependent on its amino acid sequence.
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Protein Structure Is Critical to Its Biological Function
Proteins perform a wide range of biological functions such as catalyzing chemical reactions, providing...
Protein Folding
Overview
Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins
Protein domains are small structurally independent units that are part of a single amino acid chain. Although these domains are often structurally independent, they may rely on synergistic effects to perform their functions as part of a larger protein. Protein domains may be conserved within the same organism, as well as across different organisms.
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
Protein and Protein Structure
Proteins are one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules. Proteins may be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective. They may serve in transport, storage, or membranes; or they may be toxins or enzymes. Their structures, like their functions, vary greatly. They are all, however, amino acid polymers arranged in a linear sequence.
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme can...
A protein's shape is critical to its function. For example, an enzyme can...
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...
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types. Type I...

