MHT CET Medical202624 April 2026Morning ShiftBiologyMolecular Basis of InheritanceActual
Along with Histone like DNA binding proteins which enzyme maintains supercoiled state in packaging of DNA in prokaryotes?
Options
- ADNA polymerase and RNA primase
- BDNA ligase and helicase
- CDNA gyrase and topoisomerase I
- DPhosphorylase and RNA polymerase
Correct answer
C. DNA gyrase and topoisomerase I
Step-by-step solution
In prokaryotes, the DNA is organized into large loops held by histone-like DNA binding proteins. The supercoiled state of the circular DNA is maintained by the enzymes DNA gyrase (a type of topoisomerase II) and topoisomerase I. DNA gyrase introduces negative supercoils into the DNA, whereas topoisomerase I relaxes them. Together, they balance and maintain the required supercoiled state for compact packaging of the nucleoid. Answer: DNA gyrase and topoisomerase I