noun
- the additional coiling of a coiled structure, especially the twisting of DNA strands beyond their normal helical structure
Usage: biology; molecular biology
Examples
- DNA supercoiling is essential for packaging genetic material in cells.
- The enzyme relieves supercoiling tension during DNA replication.
- Negative supercoiling helps unwind the DNA double helix.
- Researchers studied the effects of supercoiling on gene expression.
- Topoisomerases control DNA supercoiling in living organisms.
- The degree of supercoiling affects how tightly DNA is wound.