| Primary Identifier | IPR036078 | Type | Homologous_superfamily |
| Short Name | Spo11/TopoVI_A_sf |
| description | This entry represents Spo11, a meiotic recombination protein found in eukaryotes, and subunit A of topoisomerase VI, a type IIB topoisomerase found predominantly in archaea [, , , ]. These two types of proteins share structural homology.DNA topoisomerases regulate the number of topological links between two DNA strands (i.e. change the number of superhelical turns) by catalysing transient single- or double-strand breaks, crossing the strands through one another, then resealing the breaks. They can be divided into two classes: type I enzymes (, topoisomerases I, III and V) break single-strand DNA, and type II enzymes (, topoisomerases II, IV and VI) break double-strand DNA []. Topoisomerase VI is a type IIB enzymes that assembles as a heterotetramer, consisting of two A subunits required for DNA cleavage and two B subunits required for ATP hydrolysis. The B subunit is structurally similar to the ATPase domain of type IIA topoisomerases, but the A subunit is distinct, and instead shares homology with the Spo11 protein. Spo11 is a meiosis-specific protein that is responsible for the initiation of recombination through the formation of DNA double-strand breaks by a type II DNA topoisomerase-like activity. Spo11 acts in conjunction with several other proteins, including Rec102 in yeast, to bring about meiotic recombination []. |
