gyrase

[ jahy-reys, -reyz ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. a bacterial enzyme that causes supercoiling of DNA.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gyrase¹

First recorded in 1976; gyr- + -ase

Example Sentences

"This work supports new ideas on how DNA activities are regulated. We propose that DNA is not a passive biomolecule acted upon by enzymes, but an active one that uses supercoiling, looping and 3-D shapes to direct accessibility of enzymes such as gyrase to specific DNA sequences in a variety of situations, which will likely impact cellular responses to antibiotics or other treatments," Fogg said.

From Science Daily

In this study published in the journal Science, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine, Université de Strasbourg, Université Paris Cité and collaborating institutions reveal how DNA gyrase resolves DNA entanglements.

From Science Daily

It's long been known that DNA gyrase plays a role in untangling the overwinding, but the details were not clear.

From Science Daily

Their previous study looking at the 3-D structures of the resulting supercoiled minicircles revealed that these loops form a variety of shapes that they hypothesized enzymes such as gyrase would recognize.

From Science Daily

The team of researchers combined their expertise to study the interactions of DNA gyrase with DNA minicircles using recent technology advances in electron cryomicroscopy, an imaging technique that produces high-resolution 3-D views of large molecules, and other technologies.

From Science Daily