Final answer:
Topoisomerases are the enzymes that control the supercoiling of DNA, managing the tensions that result from unwinding the double helix during replication by cutting and rejoining the DNA molecule.
Step-by-step explanation:
Topoisomerases control the supercoiling of DNA. During replication, the unwinding of the double helix induces supercoiling, which could lead to stress on the DNA molecule and potentially damage it through the breakage of phosphodiester bonds. Topoisomerases stabilize and relax DNA, thus preventing damage by catalyzing the cutting and rejoining of these bonds.
They act by binding to DNA, controlling the unwinding of the helix, catalyzing hydrolysis, and facilitating the re-formation of phosphodiester linkages. These enzymes play a critical role far from the replication fork, helping to manage the tensions in overwound DNA and maintaining the structure of supercoiled chromosomes throughout the cell.