DNA topoisomerases from rat liver: physiological variations

Besides the nicking-closing (topoisomerase I) activity, an ATP-dependent DNA topoisomerase is present in rat liver nuclei. The enzyme, partially purified, is able to catenate in vitro closed DNA circles in a magnesium-dependent, ATP-dependent, histone H1-dependent reaction, and to decatenate in vitro kinetoplast DNA networks to yield free minicircles in a magnesium-dependent and ATP-dependent reaction. It is largely similar to other eukaryotic type II topoisomerases in its requirements, and presumably belongs to this class of enzymes. Type I and type II activities were measured in rat liver nuclei as a function of regenerating time after partial hepatectomy: type I activity was not significantly changed during this process. In contrast, type II activity was considerably increased, suggesting a possible involvement of the enzyme in DNA replication.