title: Twinkle helicase is essential for mtDNA maintenance and regulates mtDNA copy number.
abstract: Mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) maintenance have recently gained wide interest owing to their role in inherited diseases as well as in aging. Twinkle is a new mitochondrial 5'-3' DNA helicase, defects of which we have previously shown to underlie a mitochondrial disease, progressive external ophthalmoplegia with multiple mtDNA deletions. Mouse Twinkle is highly similar to the human counterpart, suggesting conserved function. Here, we have characterized the mouse Twinkle gene and expression profile and report that the expression patterns are not conserved between human and mouse, but are synchronized with the adjacent gene MrpL43, suggesting a shared promoter. To elucidate the in vivo role of Twinkle in mtDNA maintenance, we generated two transgenic mouse lines overexpressing wild-type Twinkle. We could demonstrate for the first time that increased expression of Twinkle in muscle and heart increases mtDNA copy number up to 3-fold higher than controls, more than any other factor reported to date. Additionally, we utilized cultured human cells and observed that reduced expression of Twinkle by RNA interference mediated a rapid drop in mtDNA copy number, further supporting the in vivo results. These data demonstrate that Twinkle helicase is essential for mtDNA maintenance, and that it may be a key regulator of mtDNA copy number in mammals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Programme of Neurosciences, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Henna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tyynismaa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sembongi
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bokori-Brown
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granycome
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poulton
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jalanko
authors.forename: Johannes N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Spelbrink
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suomalainen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004265:DNA Helicases; D019915:DNA Primase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D018628:Gene Dosage; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D019915:DNA Primase; C513299:Twnk protein, mouse; D004265:DNA Helicases; C431576:TWNK protein, human