In vivo methylation of mtDNA reveals the dynamics of protein-mtDNA interactions.

ABSTRACT: To characterize the organization of mtDNA-protein complexes (known as nucleoids) in vivo, we have probed the mtDNA surface exposure using site-specific DNA methyltransferases targeted to the mitochondria. We have observed that DNA methyltransferases have different accessibility to different sites on the mtDNA based on the levels of protein occupancy. We focused our studies on selected regions of mtDNA that are believed to be major regulatory regions involved in transcription and replication. The transcription termination region (TERM) within the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene was consistently and strongly protected from methylation, suggesting frequent and high affinity binding of mitochondrial transcription termination factor 1 (mTERF1) to the site. Protection from methylation was also observed in o

SUBMITTER: Rebelo AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2777446 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature