gyrase

Term: gyrase

Literally meaning: “the enzyme that breaks down rounds”

Origin: Anc Greek

γυρός/gyros(=round, curved)

+(-άση)/(-asy)(=-ase) enzyme suffix added to the name of the substrate that the enzyme  hydrolyzes eg proteinase for protein or lipase for lipids

>διά-/dia-(=prefix denoting “through”, “apart” )

> δυο/dio(two) + στάσις/stasis(=halt) > ίστημι/histimi(=stand).

Coined/History 

DNA  gyrase  was  discovered  and  first  isolated  by  Gellert  et

al.  from  E.  coli.  It  has  been  further  studied  by  this  and

other  groups  and  has  also  been  isolated  from  Micro-

coccus  Zuteus.

Sourse

Gellert,  M.,  Mizuuchi,  K.,  O’Dea,  M.  H.,  and  Nash,  H.  (1976) Proc.  Natl.  Acad.  Sci.  U.  S. A.  73,  3872-3876

Definition

Gyrase is the enzyme that unwinds the coiled  double-stranded DNA in order to relieve tension for helicase.