title: Linear mitochondrial DNAs of yeasts: closed-loop structure of the termini and possible linear-circular conversion mechanisms.
abstract: The terminal structure of the linear mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from three yeast species has been examined. By enzymatic digestion, alkali denaturation, and sequencing of cloned termini, it was shown that in Pichia pijperi and P. jadinii, both termini of the linear mtDNA were made of a single-stranded loop covalently joining the two strands, as in the case of vaccinia virus DNA. The left and right loop sequences were in either of two orientations, suggesting the existence of a flip-flop inversion mechanism. Contiguous to the terminal loops, inverted terminal repeats were present. The mtDNA from Williopsis mrakii seems to have an analogous structure, although terminal loops could not be directly demonstrated. Electron microscopy revealed the presence, among linear molecules, of a small number of circular DNAs, mostly of monomer length. Linear and circular models of replication are considered, and possible conversion mechanisms between linear and circular forms are discussed. A flip-flop inversion mechanism between the inverted repeat sequences within a circular intermediate may be involved in the generation of the linear form of mtDNA.
authors.affiliation: Section de Biologie, Institut Curie, Centre Universitaire Paris XI, Orsay, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dinouël
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drissi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miyakawa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sor
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rousset
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuhara
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004261:DNA Replication; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C020133:exodeoxyribonuclease III