title: Recombination associated with replication of malarial mitochondrial DNA.
abstract: Mitochondrial DNA of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum comprises approximately 20 copies per cell of a 6 kb genome, arranged mainly as polydisperse linear concatemers. In synchronous blood cultures, initiation of mtDNA replication coincides with the start of the 4-5 doublings in nuclear DNA that mark the reproductive phase of the erythrocytic cycle. We show that mtDNA replication coincides with a recombination process reminiscent of the replication mechanism used by certain bacteriophages and plasmids. The few circular forms of mtDNA which are also present do not replicate by a theta mechanism, but are themselves the product of recombination, and we propose they undergo rolling circle activity to generate the linear concatemers.
authors.affiliation: The National Institute for Medical Research, London, UK.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Preiser
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCready
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hajibagheri
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Blight
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strath
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004261:DNA Replication; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D007700:Kinetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D005810:Multigene Family; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan