Topo I

Topo I regulates DNA topology by relaxing DNA supercoiling during transcription, DNA replication, and chromatin remodeling[1]. Mechanistically, TOP1 supports efficient RNA polymerase II transcription and limits transcription-replication conflicts that generate replication stress and genome instability[2][3][4]. In disease-relevant cancer research, Topo I inhibitors exploit this biology by trapping TOP1-DNA cleavage complexes, with camptothecins, irinotecan, and topotecan used as reference tools for anticancer studies[5][6]. Compared with related isoforms, human topoisomerases include TOP1 and mitochondrial TOP1MT as type IB enzymes, while TOP2A/TOP2B and TOP3A/TOP3B belong to distinct topoisomerase classes with different genome-maintenance roles[1][7].