Human mitochondrial degradosome prevents harmful mitochondrial R loops and mitochondrial genome instability.

ABSTRACT: R loops are nucleic acid structures comprising an DNA-RNA hybrid and a displaced single-stranded DNA. These structures may occur transiently during transcription, playing essential biological functions. However, persistent R loops may become pathological as they are important drivers of genome instability and have been associated with human diseases. The mitochondrial degradosome is a functionally conserved complex from bacteria to human mitochondria. It is composed of the ATP-dependent RNA and DNA helicase SUV3 and the PNPase ribonuclease, playing a central role in mitochondrial RNA surveillance and degradation. Here we describe a new role for the mitochondrial degradosome in preventing the accumulation of pathological R loops in the mitochondrial DNA, in addition to preventing dsRNA accu

SUBMITTER: Silva S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6205488 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature