TEFM facilitates transition from RNA synthesis to DNA synthesis at H-strand replication origin of mtDNA.

ABSTRACT: Transcription of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) begins from specific transcription promoters. In strand-asynchronous mtDNA replication, transcripts from the light-strand promoter serve as primers for leading-strand synthesis at the origin of the H-strand replication (O_H). A 7S DNA strand, a presumed aborted replication product, is also synthesized from O_H. Transition from RNA synthesis to DNA synthesis at O_H is crucial for balancing replication with transcription, yet the mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we examine the role of mitochondrial transcription elongation factor (TEFM) in this process. TEFM knockout results in decreased 7S DNA, strand-asynchronous replication intermediates, and mtDNA copy number, all of which are concordant with downregulation

SUBMITTER: Matsuda S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11807126 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature