Structural highlights
Function
TOP3B_HUMAN Releases the supercoiling and torsional tension of DNA introduced during the DNA replication and transcription by transiently cleaving and rejoining one strand of the DNA duplex. Introduces a single-strand break via transesterification at a target site in duplex DNA. The scissile phosphodiester is attacked by the catalytic tyrosine of the enzyme, resulting in the formation of a DNA-(5'-phosphotyrosyl)-enzyme intermediate and the expulsion of a 3'-OH DNA strand. The free DNA strand than undergoes passage around the unbroken strand thus removing DNA supercoils. Finally, in the religation step, the DNA 3'-OH attacks the covalent intermediate to expel the active-site tyrosine and restore the DNA phosphodiester backbone (By similarity). Possesses negatively supercoiled DNA relaxing activity.
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Type IA topoisomerases (TopoIAs) are present in all living organisms. They resolve DNA/RNA catenanes, knots and supercoils by breaking and rejoining single-stranded DNA/RNA segments and allowing the passage of another nucleic acid segment through the break. Topoisomerase III-beta (TOP3B), the only RNA topoisomerase in metazoans, promotes R-loop disassembly and translation of mRNAs. Defects in TOP3B lead to severe neurological diseases. We present a series of cryo-EM structures of human TOP3B with its cofactor TDRD3 during cleavage and rejoining of DNA or RNA, thus elucidating the roles of divalent metal ions and key enzyme residues in each step of the catalytic cycle. We also obtained the structure of an open-gate configuration that addresses the long-standing question of the strand-passage mechanism. Our studies reveal how TOP3B catalyzes both DNA and RNA relaxation, while TOP3A acts only on DNA.
Structural insights into human topoisomerase 3beta DNA and RNA catalysis and nucleic acid gate dynamics.,Yang X, Chen X, Yang W, Pommier Y Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 19;16(1):834. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-55959-y. PMID:39828754[1]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Yang X, Chen X, Yang W, Pommier Y. Structural insights into human topoisomerase 3β DNA and RNA catalysis and nucleic acid gate dynamics. Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 19;16(1):834. PMID:39828754 doi:10.1038/s41467-025-55959-y
