DNA in a twist? How topoisomerases solve topological problems in DNA

DNA topoisomerases have been described as ‘the magicians of the DNA world’, somehow allowing DNA strands to pass through each other. These ingenious enzymes are both essential and potentially dangerous, as any interruption in their DNA breakage-reunion reactions can lead to chromosome breaks and cell death. This has led to their development as important targets for antibacterial and anti-cancer chemotherapy.