The article highlights the need for new tools to investigate the enzymatic activity of DNA topoisomerases, which play a crucial role in regulating DNA topology during cellular processes. These enzymes are target of synthetic or natural compounds used in fighting several diseases from cancer, to bacterial, viral or parasite borne infections.
However, current tools for measuring potential inhibition of topoisomerase activity are time-consuming and not easily adaptable outside specialized laboratories. In the article, selected small-molecule compounds have been examined as potential topoisomerases inhibitors, by using a fast and gel-free method.
This tool relies on the use of rolling circle amplification paired with a chemiluminescent or fluorescence microscopy readout. The tool proved to be sensitive, directly quantitative, and with the potential to pave the way for new diagnostic and drug screening protocols in research and clinical settings. DOI: 1424-8247/16/5/657
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