noun
- a twisted structure formed when DNA or other helical molecules are wound upon themselves
Usage: biology
verb
- to wind or twist into a supercoil
Usage: biology
Examples
- The DNA molecule forms a supercoil when it is overwound.
- Topoisomerases help relieve tension in supercoiled DNA.
- The chromosome contains negatively supercoiled regions.
- Enzymes can supercoil DNA during replication.
- Scientists studied how the protein affects DNA supercoiling.
- The supercoil structure is essential for DNA packaging in cells.