HomeMolecular BiologyDNA Supercoiling & Topoisomerase Simulator

DNA Supercoiling & Topoisomerase Simulator (2D)

Interactive 2D model of a closed DNA loop obeying Lk = Tw + Wr: a tracking enzyme locally unwinds twist as it moves, forcing the loop to writhe into plectonemic supercoils, and a topoisomerase relieves the strain with a real discrete +/-1 or +/-2 change in linking number per click.

Molecular Biology2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version
2d-molecular-genetics ↗ Open standalone

A 2D companion to the 3D DNA supercoiling model: a closed DNA loop drawn flat, obeying the same real topological law Lk = Tw + Wr. A tracking enzyme moving around the loop locally unwinds the duplex, forcing over-winding ahead and under-winding behind — watch the loop itself buckle into tight plectonemic coils as the local twist deficit is genuinely converted into writhe. Click Topo I or Topo II to apply one real discrete catalytic cycle (Δ Lk = ±1 or ±2) and watch the coiling relax immediately. A live check confirms the enzyme's own motion never changes total Lk — only a topoisomerase click does.

⚙ Under the hood

Watch a replication fork wind DNA into positive supercoils ahead of it and negative supercoils behind — the twin supercoiled-domain model — then relieve the torsional strain live with Topoisomerase I or Topoisomerase II (gyrase).

dnageneticsmolecular-biologytopoisomerasereplicationbiophysics

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install

What did you find?

Add reproduction steps (optional)