7 syllables: To, po, i, so, me, ra, se. Stress on i.
toh-poh-SEYE-muh-rayz
/ˌtoʊˌpoʊˈsaɪməˌreɪz/
Topoisomerase is pronounced toh-poh-SEYE-muh-rayz (/ˌtoʊˌpoʊˈsaɪməˌreɪz/). It has seven syllables (To-po-i-so-me-ra-se), with the stress on "i". Topoisomerase is a class of enzymes that modulate DNA topology by creating transient breaks in strands to relieve or introduce supercoils during replication and transcription. They play essential roles in maintaining DNA integrity and facilitating processes that require strand passage, such as unwinding or re-ligation of DNA. These enzymes are critical in cellular biology and are frequently referenced in molecular genetics research.
nounTopoisomerase is a class of enzymes that modulate DNA topology by creating transient breaks in strands to relieve or introduce supercoils during replication and transcription. They play essential roles in maintaining DNA integrity and facilitating processes that require strand passage, such as unwinding or re-ligation of DNA. These enzymes are critical in cellular biology and are frequently referenced in molecular genetics research.
"The study compared topoisomerase activity in healthy cells versus cancer cells."
"Inhibitors of topoisomerase are used as chemotherapeutic agents to disrupt DNA replication in tumors."
"Topoisomerase I relieves supercoiling ahead of RNA polymerase during transcription."
Pronounce as toh-ō-see-MER-ays with primary stress on the fourth syllable. IPA US: ˌtoʊ.oʊˈsiː.məˌreɪz; UK: ˌtəʊ.əʊˈsaɪ.məˌreɪz; AU: ˌtɔɪ.əˈsaɪ.məˌreɪz. Break it into to-po-i-so-me-RASE with the stress on me-RASE. Begin with a clear ‘toh’ or ‘tow’ sound, then glide to a long ‘o’ and a crisp ‘see,’ finally a firm ‘muh-RAZE’ to finish. For practice, say it slowly: to-po-i-so-me-ra-se, then speed up while retaining the rhythm and syllable-timing.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress on the ‘po’ or ‘so’), mispronouncing the 'sei/see' as a short ‘i’ rather than a long ‘ee,’ and blending syllables too quickly so the ending ‘rase’ sounds like ‘raise.’ Correction: emphasize -siː- as a long E, place main stress on -ser- (toward the end): to-ō-si-MER-ase. Practice with slow articulation and the phrase ‘topo-’ + ‘isomer’ + ‘ase’ to reinforce the correct cadence.
In US English, the initial syllables carry softer vowels and the emphasis sits on the fourth syllable; UK tends to a slightly tighter articulation with a crisper final ‘rase,’ and AU shares US rhythm but can show a more rounded initial ‘to’ and a stronger final nasalization at the end of ‘rase’ depending on speaker. IPA touchpoints: US ˌtoʊ.oʊˈsiː.məˌreɪz, UK ˌtəʊ.əʊˈsaɪ.məˌreɪz, AU ˌtɔɪ.əˈsaɪ.məˌreɪz. Listen for rhoticity and vowel length differences across regions.
It features multiple syllables, a rare ‘oi’ sequence, and the unstressed ‘o’ vowels that can blur in rapid speech. The key challenges are the ‘to’ and ‘oi’ sequence, the long e in ‘si’ and the late ‘merase’ with a final z sound. Tackle it by segmenting into 5 parts (to-po-i-so-me-ra-se), isolating the long E in -si-, and practicing the final -rase clearly with a crisp z. IPA cues help fix exact mouth positions.
The ‘oi’ vowel diphthong in the first accented syllable often has a slight Schwa-like vocal reduction in quick speech, so you might hear a lighter ‘to’ rather than a full ‘toh-AY.’ To fix, rehearse the stressed syllable with a full vowel and precise tongue height, then tie to the surrounding unstressed syllables without losing the syllable rhythm. IPA: US ˌtoʊ.oʊˈsiː.məˌreɪz.
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Topoisomerase derives from three components: topoi- (from Greek topos, meaning place or position), -somo- (from Greek sōma, body, or shape), and -erase (from Greek -erase, a suffix used in enzymes, linked to enders that catalyze changes). The term reflects the enzyme’s role in changing DNA topology (the spatial arrangement of the genome) by transiently breaking and rejoining DNA strands. The concept of topological changes in DNA was explored in the mid-20th century as scientists observed supercoiling during replication and transcription. The specific enzymes were identified and characterized in the 1970s and 1980s, with Skoulik et al. and Wang among early contributors; the prefix “topo-” was established in the literature to denote topological alterations, while “isomerase” indicates the rearrangement of molecular isomeric states. First known uses often appear in biochemical and molecular biology texts describing the mechanisms of DNA relaxation and tangling management, evolving into the precise naming of topoisomerase I, II, and III in later decades. The term has since become a standard in genetics, biochemistry, and pharmacology literature, signifying enzymes that modulate DNA supercoiling and topology through transient cleavage and resealing events.
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