super coiling should be about the DNA state!
2006-09-11 09:54:11 · 2 answers · asked by narges 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Supercoiling is a physical rearrangement of the DNA double helix that allows it to conform more closely to the ideal B-DNA structure under circumstances in which it otherwise might not!
Supercoiling arises in any helical or coiled structure in which the two ends are constrained in some way. The easiest anology to think of is that of a telephone cord. When you put the handset back on the receiver, the cord will wind up on itself if it has been twisted. In order to unwind the cord, you have to remove the handset, allow the cord to unwind to its natural state and then replace it.
2006-09-11 09:56:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a bunch of protists and bacteria that have DNA as a very highly coiuled circular state. Normally, this DNA is linear or circular and held together by hydrogen bonding. As the spaxce in the cell is limited, DNA winds up really small and tight and unwinds at the time of replication using an enzyme unwindase.
2006-09-12 03:24:59 · answer #2 · answered by Sarab s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋