Question

Which protein introduces negative supercoils in prokaryotic DNA?

Options

• Topoisomerase I

• HU proteins

• RNA ligase

• DNA Gyrase

Answer 1

DNA gyrase is the enzyme responsible for introducing negative supercoils into prokaryotic DNA. This process is essential for the final stages of prokaryotic DNA compaction and is assisted by HU proteins, while topoisomerase I maintains the supercoiled state by relaxing positive supercoils generated during DNA replication and transcription.