EXPeditions - The living library of knowlegde12 Nov 2025

How does DNA topology affect living cells? - Davide Michieletto

DNA topology, more specifically, is the study of the topological properties of DNA. And it's really fascinating.

About Davide Michieletto "I am a Professor of Biomaterials at the University of Edinburgh working on Topological Problems in Soft Matter and Biology. I am a 2024 Philip Leverhulme Prize Winner. I am the group leader of the Topological Active Polymers Lab. We aim to discover new DNA-based topological soft materials and complex fluids that can change properties in time. The group's expertise is rooted in polymer and statistical physics and employs both simulations and experiments to answer our questions. We believe boundaries between disciplines were made to be broken, and we do our best to shatter them every day."

Key Points • DNA topology refers to the structural features of DNA – supercoiling, knotting, and linking – that affect its function and are preserved under continuous deformation. • Topoisomerases are essential enzymes that cut, rearrange and reseal DNA strands to manage topological problems, making them critical for processes like gene expression and cell division. • Drugs that target DNA topology, such as antibiotics and cancer therapies, work by inhibiting topoisomerases, but they often affect both healthy and diseased cells. • DNA topology is not inherently harmful; complex structures like knots and links may offer evolutionary or functional advantages in packaging or preserving genetic material.

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