Transcript availability dictates the balance between strand-asynchronous and strand-coupled mitochondrial DNA replication.

ABSTRACT: Mammalian mitochondria operate multiple mechanisms of DNA replication. In many cells and tissues a strand-asynchronous mechanism predominates over coupled leading and lagging-strand DNA synthesis. However, little is known of the factors that control or influence the different mechanisms of replication, and the idea that strand-asynchronous replication entails transient incorporation of transcripts (aka bootlaces) is controversial. A firm prediction of the bootlace model is that it depends on mitochondrial transcripts. Here, we show that elevated expression of Twinkle DNA helicase in human mitochondria induces bidirectional, coupled leading and lagging-strand DNA synthesis, at the expense of strand-asynchronous replication; and this switch is accompanied by decreases in the steady-state lev

SUBMITTER: Cluett TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6237803 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature