noun
superhelix; supercoil
Technical term in molecular biology and biochemistry for a higher-order helical structure, such as the coiling of DNA.
DNAは超らせん構造をとることがある。
DNA can adopt a superhelical structure.
この酵素は超らせんをほどく働きがある。
This enzyme has the function of unwinding supercoils.
らせん is a simple helix; 超らせん refers to a higher-order coiling of a helix, such as a supercoiled DNA molecule.
Compound of 超 (super-) and らせん (helix). A straightforward technical coinage.