A type I DNA topoisomerase from Trypanosoma cruzi.

A type I DNA topoisomerase has been isolated from the nuclei of the flagellate Trypanosoma cruzi, using poly(ethylene glycol) fractionation and chromatography on hydroxyapatite and on phosphocellulose. The relaxation activity was ATP-independent, enhanced by Mg2+ and spermidine. The enzyme removed supercoils from negative and positive superhelical DNAs. Topoisomerase activity was associated with a polypeptide of Mr about 65000 as shown by glycerol gradient centrifugation and by electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels.