Final answer:
Topoisomerase facilitates Helicase's function by making cuts in the DNA's phosphate backbone to relieve supercoiling tension, allowing DNA strands to be separated efficiently for replication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Topoisomerase makes Helicase's job easier during DNA replication by preventing the DNA from becoming too supercoiled. When Helicase unwinds the DNA at the replication fork, it introduces positive supercoiling ahead of the fork which can create tension and potentially hinder the replication process.
To alleviate this problem, Topoisomerase cuts the DNA's phosphate backbone, allowing the DNA to relax and unwind, thus relieving the pressure. Once the tension is reduced, Topoisomerase reseals the cut, ensuring the integrity of the DNA molecule is maintained. By doing so, Topoisomerase reduces the resistance that Helicase faces, allowing Helicase to continue separating DNA strands efficiently.
Topoisomerases are critical because without them, increased DNA unwinding could cause the phosphodiester bonds in the DNA to rupture, leading to fragmented DNA. This avoidance of DNA damage is essential to ensuring accurate DNA replication and cell division.