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A quantity, called the linking number, is defined, which specifies the total number of twists in a circular helix. The linking number is invariant under continuous deformations of the ring and therefore enables one to calculate the influence of superhelical structures on the secondary helix of a circular molecule. The linking number can be determined by projecting the helix into a plane and counting strand crosses in the projection as described. For example, it has been shown that for each 180° twist in a left‐handed superhelix, a right‐handed 360° twist is removed from the secondary helix, thus allowing local unwinding.
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Glaubiger et al. (1967) studied this question.
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