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Review
. 2018:1805:215-232.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8556-2_11.

The Role of Supercoiling in the Motor Activity of RNA Polymerases

Annick Lesne  1   2   3   4 , Jean-Marc Victor  5   6   7   8 , Edouard Bertrand  2   3 , Eugenia Basyuk  2   3 , Maria Barbi  1   4
Affiliations
Review

The Role of Supercoiling in the Motor Activity of RNA Polymerases

Annick Lesne et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2018.

Abstract

RNA polymerase (RNAP) is, in its elongation phase, an emblematic example of a molecular motor whose activity is highly sensitive to DNA supercoiling. After a review of DNA supercoiling basic features, we discuss how supercoiling controls polymerase velocity, while being itself modified by polymerase activity. This coupling is supported by single-molecule measurements. Physical modeling allows us to describe quantitatively how supercoiling and torsional constraints mediate a mechanical coupling between adjacent polymerases. On this basis, we obtain a description that may explain the existence and functioning of RNAP convoys.

Keywords: Convoy; DNA; Force; Molecular motor; Physical modeling; RNA polymerase; Supercoiling; Torque; Torsional constraints.

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