Definition of Dna Supercoiling



DNA supercoiling tells us about the winding of the strand of the DNA. This supercoiling of DNA has a lot of significance in a large number of biological processes and the DNA metabolism as well as the gene expression is highly controlled by this. The enzymes that are responsible for the over and under winding of DNA are known as topoisomerases.

 


In this way, processes like DNA replication and transcription become possible. The length of DNA is about thousands of times more than that of a cell, hence it is impossible for it to fit inside the cell. This is why supercoiling of DNA is necessary so that its packaging can be done and it occupies lesser space in the nucleus. 

 

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