<p>DNA topoisomerases regulate the number of topological links between two DNA strands (i.e. change the number of superhelical turns) by catalysing transient single- or double-strand breaks, crossing the strands through one another, then resealing the breaks [<cite idref="PUB00005437"/>]. These enzymes have several functions: to remove DNA supercoils during transcription and DNA replication; for strand breakage during recombination; for chromosome condensation; and to disentangle intertwined DNA during mitosis [<cite idref="PUB00020794"/>, <cite idref="PUB00016842"/>]. DNA topoisomerases are divided into two classes: type I enzymes (<db_xref db="EC" dbkey="5.99.1.2"/>; topoisomerases I, III and V) break single-strand DNA, and type II enzymes (<db_xref db="EC" dbkey="5.99.1.3"/>; topoisomerases II, IV and VI) break double-strand DNA [<cite idref="PUB00020793"/>].</p><p>Type II topoisomerases are ATP-dependent enzymes, and can be subdivided according to their structure and reaction mechanisms: type IIA (topoisomerase II or gyrase, and topoisomerase IV) and type IIB (topoisomerase VI). These enzymes are responsible for relaxing supercoiled DNA as well as for introducing both negative and positive supercoils [<cite idref="PUB00020795"/>].</p><p>DNA topoisomerase II (<db_xref db="EC" dbkey="5.99.1.3"/>) [<cite idref="PUB00001050"/>, <cite idref="PUB00001088"/>, <cite idref="PUB00005437"/>] is one of the two types of enzyme that catalyze the interconversion of topological DNA isomers. Type II topoisomerases are ATP-dependent and act by passing a DNA segment through a transient double-strand break. Topoisomerase II is found in phages, archaebacteria, prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and in African Swine Fever virus (ASF). Bacteriophage T4 topoisomerase II consists of three subunits (the product of genes 39, 52 and 60). In prokaryotes and in archaebacteria the enzyme, known as DNA gyrase, consists of two subunits (genes GyrA and GyrB). In some bacteria, a second type II topoisomerase has been identified; it is known as topoisomerase IV and is required for chromosome segregation, it also consists of two subunits (genes parC and parE). In eukaryotes, type II topoisomerase is a homodimer. </p><p>There are many regions of sequence homology between the different subtypes of topoisomerase II. The signature pattern used in this entry is a highly conserved pentapeptide, which is located in GyrB, in ParE, and in protein 39 of phage T4 topoisomerase.</p><p>More information about this protein can be found at Protein of the Month: DNA Topoisomerase [<cite idref="PUB00035961"/>].</p>