Replication of vertebrate mitochondrial DNA entails transient ribonucleotide incorporation throughout the lagging strand.
Using two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoresis, we show that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication of birds and mammals frequently entails ribonucleotide incorporation throughout the lagging strand (RITOLS). Based on a combination of two-dimensional agarose gel electrophoretic analysis and mapping of 5' ends of DNA, initiation of RITOLS replication occurs in the major non-coding region of vertebrate mtDNA and is effectively unidirectional. In some cases, conversion of nascent RNA strands to DNA starts at defined loci, the most prominent of which maps, in mammalian mtDNA, in the vicinity of the site known as the light-strand origin.
Yasukawa
Takehiro
T
MRC-Dunn Human Nutrition Unit, Cambridge, UK.
Reyes
Aurelio
A
Cluett
Tricia J
TJ
Yang
Ming-Yao
MY
Bowmaker
Mark
M
Jacobs
Howard T
HT
Holt
Ian J
IJ
D024506:5' Flanking Region; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004261:DNA Replication; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D051379:Mice; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000235:genetics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D012265:Ribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012265:Ribonucleotides; D012313:RNA