Project description:Regulation of replication and expression of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is essential for cellular energy conversion via oxidative phosphorylation. The mitochondrial transcription elongation factor (TEFM) has been proposed to regulate the switch between transcription termination for replication primer formation and processive, near-genome length transcription for mtDNA gene expression. Here, we report that Tefm is essential for mouse embryogenesis and that levels of promoter-distal mitochondrial transcripts are drastically reduced in conditional Tefm-knockout hearts. In contrast, the promoter-proximal transcripts are much increased in Tefm knockouts, but they mostly terminate before the region where the switch from transcription to replication occurs, and consequently de novo mtDNA replication is profoundly reduced. Unexpectedly, deep sequencing of RNA from Tefm knockouts revealed accumulation of unprocessed transcripts in addition to defective transcription elongation. Furthermore, a proximity labelling (BioID) assay showed that TEFM interacts with multiple RNA processing factors. Our data demonstrate that TEFM acts as a general transcription elongation factor, necessary for both gene transcription and replication primer formation, and loss of TEFM affects RNA processing in mammalian mitochondria.
Project description:Mitochondria are vital in providing cellular energy via their oxidative phosphorylation system, which requires the coordinated expression of genes encoded by both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA). Transcription of the circular mammalian mtDNA depends on a single mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT). Although the transcription initiation process is well understood, it remains highly controversial if POLRMT also serves as the primase for initiation of mtDNA replication. In the nucleus, the RNA polymerases needed for gene expression have no such role. Conditional knockout of Polrmt in heart results in severe mitochondrial dysfunction causing dilated cardiomyopathy in young mice. We further studied the molecular consequences of different expression levels of POLRMT and found that POLRMT is essential for primer synthesis to initiate mtDNA replication in vivo. Furthermore, transcription initiation for primer formation has priority over gene expression. Surprisingly, mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) exists in an mtDNA-free pool in the Polrmt knockout mice. TFAM levels remain unchanged despite strong mtDNA depletion and TFAM is thus protected from degradation of the AAA+ Lon protease in absence of POLRMT. Lastly, mitochondrial transcription elongation factor (TEFM) can compensate for a partial depletion of POLRMT in heterozygous Polrmt knockout mice, indicating a direct regulatory role for this factor in transcription. In conclusion, we present here the first in vivo evidence that POLRMT has a key regulatory role in replication of mammalian mtDNA and is part of a mechanism that provides a switch between RNA primer formation for mtDNA replication and mtDNA expression. Isolated heart mitochondria from three control mice (L/L) and three Polrmt knockout mice (L/L, cre), aged 3-4 weeks, were sequenced and analyzed for differential expression.
Project description:Mitochondria are vital in providing cellular energy via their oxidative phosphorylation system, which requires the coordinated expression of genes encoded by both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA). Transcription of the circular mammalian mtDNA depends on a single mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT). Although the transcription initiation process is well understood, it remains highly controversial if POLRMT also serves as the primase for initiation of mtDNA replication. In the nucleus, the RNA polymerases needed for gene expression have no such role. Conditional knockout of Polrmt in heart results in severe mitochondrial dysfunction causing dilated cardiomyopathy in young mice. We further studied the molecular consequences of different expression levels of POLRMT and found that POLRMT is essential for primer synthesis to initiate mtDNA replication in vivo. Furthermore, transcription initiation for primer formation has priority over gene expression. Surprisingly, mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) exists in an mtDNA-free pool in the Polrmt knockout mice. TFAM levels remain unchanged despite strong mtDNA depletion and TFAM is thus protected from degradation of the AAA+ Lon protease in absence of POLRMT. Lastly, mitochondrial transcription elongation factor (TEFM) can compensate for a partial depletion of POLRMT in heterozygous Polrmt knockout mice, indicating a direct regulatory role for this factor in transcription. In conclusion, we present here the first in vivo evidence that POLRMT has a key regulatory role in replication of mammalian mtDNA and is part of a mechanism that provides a switch between RNA primer formation for mtDNA replication and mtDNA expression.
Project description:Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins protect regions of ssDNA formed during processes such as DNA replication and repair. We here devise a genetic screen and identify the mitochondrial ssDNA-binding protein (mtSSB) as a key regulator of mtDNA levels. In mitochondria, RNA synthesis from the light-strand promoter (LSP) is required for transcription as well as for generating the primers for initiation of mtDNA synthesis. We find that mtSSB is essential for mtDNA replication initiation, as transcription is strongly upregulated from the LSP in an mtSSB knockout mouse model, but cannot support the switch to replication. Using deep sequencing as well as biochemical reconstitution experiments, we find that mtSSB is also necessary to restrict transcription initiation and primer formation to specific promoters and origins of replication both in vitro and in vivo. Pathological mutations in human mtSSB cannot efficiently support primer maturation and origin specific initiation of mtDNA replication in vitro.
Project description:Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins protect regions of ssDNA formed during processes such as DNA replication and repair. We here devise a genetic screen and identify the mitochondrial ssDNA-binding protein (mtSSB) as a key regulator of mtDNA levels. In mitochondria, RNA synthesis from the light-strand promoter (LSP) is required for transcription as well as for generating the primers for initiation of mtDNA synthesis. We find that mtSSB is essential for mtDNA replication initiation, as transcription is strongly upregulated from the LSP in a mtSSB knockout mouse model, but cannot support the switch to replication. Using deep sequencing as well as biochemical reconstitution experiments, we find that mtSSB is also necessary to restrict transcription initiation and primer formation to specific promoters and origins of replication both in vitro and in vivo. Pathological mutations in human mtSSB cannot efficiently support primer maturation and origin specific initiation of mtDNA replication in vitro.
Project description:Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins protect regions of ssDNA formed during processes such as DNA replication and repair. We here devise a genetic screen and identify the mitochondrial ssDNA-binding protein (mtSSB) as a key regulator of mtDNA levels. In mitochondria, RNA synthesis from the light-strand promoter (LSP) is required for transcription as well as for generating the primers for initiation of mtDNA synthesis. We find that mtSSB is essential for mtDNA replication initiation, as transcription is strongly upregulated from the LSP in an mtSSB knockout mouse model, but cannot support the switch to replication. Using deep sequencing as well as biochemical reconstitution experiments, we find that mtSSB is also necessary to restrict transcription initiation and primer formation to specific promoters and origins of replication both in vitro and in vivo. Pathological mutations in human mtSSB cannot efficiently support primer maturation and origin specific initiation of mtDNA replication in vitro.
Project description:Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) binding proteins protect regions of ssDNA formed during processes such as DNA replication and repair. We here devise a genetic screen and identify the mitochondrial ssDNA-binding protein (mtSSB) as a key regulator of mtDNA levels. In mitochondria, RNA synthesis from the light-strand promoter (LSP) is required for transcription as well as for generating the primers for initiation of mtDNA synthesis. We find that mtSSB is essential for mtDNA replication initiation, as transcription is strongly upregulated from the LSP in an mtSSB knockout mouse model, but cannot support the switch to replication. Using deep sequencing as well as biochemical reconstitution experiments, we find that mtSSB is also necessary to restrict transcription initiation and primer formation to specific promoters and origins of replication both in vitro and in vivo. Pathological mutations in human mtSSB cannot efficiently support primer maturation and origin specific initiation of mtDNA replication in vitro.
Project description:Mammalian RNase H1 directs RNA primer formation for mtDNA replication initiation and is also necessary for precise termination of mtDNA replication
Project description:The exact in vivo role for RNase H1 in mammalian mitochondria has been much debated and we show here that it is essential for site-specific formation of RNA primers to allow initiation of mtDNA replication. Without RNase H1, the RNA:DNA hybrids at the replication origins are not processed and mtDNA replication is instead initiated at non-canonical sites and becomes impaired. Furthermore, RNase H1 is also needed for replication completion and in its absence linear deleted mtDNA molecules extending between the two origins of mtDNA replication are formed. Finally, we report the first patient with a homozygous pathogenic mutation in the hybrid-binding domain (HBD) of RNase H1 causing impaired mtDNA replication. In contrast to catalytically dead pathological variants of RNase H1, this mutant version has enhanced enzyme activity. This finding shows that the RNase H1 activity must be strictly controlled to allow proper regulation of mtDNA replication.
Project description:The exact in vivo role for RNase H1 in mammalian mitochondria has been much debated and we show here that it is essential for site-specific formation of RNA primers to allow initiation of mtDNA replication. Without RNase H1, the RNA:DNA hybrids at the replication origins are not processed and mtDNA replication is instead initiated at non-canonical sites and becomes impaired. Furthermore, RNase H1 is also needed for replication completion and in its absence linear deleted mtDNA molecules extending between the two origins of mtDNA replication are formed. Finally, we report the first patient with a homozygous pathogenic mutation in the hybrid-binding domain (HBD) of RNase H1 causing impaired mtDNA replication. In contrast to catalytically dead pathological variants of RNase H1, this mutant version has enhanced enzyme activity. This finding shows that the RNase H1 activity must be strictly controlled to allow proper regulation of mtDNA replication.