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. 2008 Dec 5;37(3):721–730. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkn994

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Topoisomerase II might discern whether or not a DNA domain is suitable for successful rejoining by bending the G-segment before the gating step. (a) Proper bending of the interacting duplex will be possible as long as the stretching tension along the DNA does not exceed a threshold value (τo). This threshold is determined by the tension (τp) that the enzyme is able to counteract to close the DNA gate. (b) The active deformation of DNA, coupled to ATP binding and hydrolysis, could operate then as a checkpoint to unlock the DNA-gate, as well as a gain of elastic energy to be delivered in the rejoining step.