Regulation of mitochondrial D-loops by transcription factor A and single-stranded DNA-binding protein

EMBO Rep. 2002 May;3(5):451-6. doi: 10.1093/embo-reports/kvf099. Epub 2002 Apr 18.

Abstract

During replication, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) takes on a triple-stranded structure called a D-loop. Although their physiological roles are not understood, D-loops are implicated in replication and transcription of mtDNA. Little is known about the turnover of D-loops. We investigated the effects of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and single-stranded DNA-binding protein (mtSSB) on D-loops. In human HeLa cells, TFAM and mtSSB are, respectively, 1700- and 3000-fold more abundant than mtDNA. This level of TFAM is two orders of magnitude higher than reported previously and is sufficient to wrap human mtDNA entirely. TFAM resolves D-loops in vitro if added in similar stoichiometries. mtSSB inhibits the resolution of mtDNA by TFAM but enhances resolution by RecG, a junction-specific helicase from Escherichia coli. Hence, mtSSB functions in both stabilization and resolution. We propose that TFAM and mtSSB are cooperatively involved in stabilizing D-loops and in the maintenance of mtDNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mitochondrial Proteins*
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Trans-Activators*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Xenopus Proteins*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • TFAM protein, human
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • XL-MTTFA protein, Xenopus
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • mitochondrial transcription factor A
  • RecG protein, E coli