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- Falkenberg, Maria, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Replication and Transcription of Human Mitochondrial DNA
- 2024
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In: ANNUAL REVIEW OF BIOCHEMISTRY. - 0066-4154 .- 1545-4509. ; 93, s. 47-77
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is replicated and transcribed by phage-like DNA and RNA polymerases, and our understanding of these processes has progressed substantially over the last several decades. Molecular mechanisms have been elucidated by biochemistry and structural biology and essential in vivo roles established by cell biology and mouse genetics. Single molecules of mtDNA are packaged by mitochondrial transcription factor A into mitochondrial nucleoids, and their level of compaction influences the initiation of both replication and transcription. Mutations affecting the molecular machineries replicating and transcribing mtDNA are important causes of human mitochondrial disease, reflecting the critical role of the genome in oxidative phosphorylation system biogenesis. Mechanisms controlling mtDNA replication and transcription still need to be clarified, and future research in this area is likely to open novel therapeutic possibilities for treating mitochondrial dysfunction.
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| 3. |
- Pellegrini, Mina, et al.
(author)
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MTERF2 is a nucleoid component in mammalian mitochondria.
- 2009
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In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3002 .- 0005-2728. ; 1787:5, s. 296-302
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The mammalian MTERF family of proteins has four members, named MTERF1 to MTERF4, which were identified in homology searches using the mitochondrial transcription termination factor, mTERF (here denoted MTERF1) as query. MTERF1 and MTERF3 are known to participate in the control of mitochondrial DNA transcription, but the function of the other two proteins is not known. We here investigate the structure and function of MTERF2. Protein import experiments using isolated organelles confirm that MTERF2 is a mitochondrial protein. Edman degradation of MTERF2 isolated from stably transfected HeLa cells demonstrates that mature MTERF2 lacks a targeting peptide (amino acids 1-35) present in the precursor form of the protein. MTERF2 is a monomer in isolation and displays a non sequence-specific DNA-binding activity. In vivo quantification experiments demonstrate that MTERF2 is relatively abundant, with one monomer present per approximately 265 bp of mtDNA. In comparison, the mtDNA packaging factor TFAM is present at a ratio of one molecule per approximately 10-12 bp of mtDNA. Using formaldehyde cross-linking we demonstrate that MTERF2 is present in nucleoids, and therefore must be located in close proximity to mtDNA. Taken together, our work provides a basic biochemical characterization of MTERF2, paving the way for future functional studies.
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