Decrease of D-loop frequency in heart and cerebral hemispheres mitochondrial DNA of aged rat.
A quantitative analysis of the frequency of the supercoiled mitochondrial DNA molecules containing the D-loop in rat heart and cerebral hemispheres, at different ages, is presented. Both tissues of aged animals exhibit a remarkable reduction in the content of super-coiled D-loop containing molecules compared to the adults. This alteration could be responsible for the age-dependent reduction of mitochondrial DNA transcription previously observed in rat brain and heart.
Petruzzella
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V
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bari, Italy.
Fracasso
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F
Gadaleta
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MN
Cantatore
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P
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism*; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008929:Mitochondria, Heart / Q000378:metabolism*; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D051381:Rats
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004278:DNA, Superhelical