title: Oligonucleotide sequences similar to transcription factor consensi of nuclear genes are present in the human mitochondrial genome.
abstract: Screening the mitochondrial genome for binding sites for known nuclear transcription factors revealed oligonucleotide sequences identical or with over 85% similarity to consensi sequences for twenty-one transcription factors, modulating nuclear genes involved, among others, in cell proliferation, inflammation and synthesis of ribosomal and mitochondrial proteins. Two of these sequences were found in the D-loop, the others dispersed among structural genes for respiratory enzyme subunits, for t-RNAs and for rRNAs. We hypothesize that the transcription factors corresponding to the detected mitochondrial binding sites and the agents controlling the availability of these factors could play a regulatory role in the diverse functions of mitochondria, such as energy production, differentiation and apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solakidi
authors.forename: Constantine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sekeris
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors