title: Native R-loops persist throughout the mouse mitochondrial DNA genome.
abstract: Mammalian mtDNA has been found here to harbor RNA-DNA hybrids at a variety of locations throughout the genome. The R-loop, previously characterized in vitro at the leading strand replication origin (OH), is isolated as a native RNA-DNA hybrid copurifying with mtDNA. Surprisingly, other mitochondrial transcripts also form stable partial R-loops. These are abundant and affect mtDNA conformation. Current models regarding the mechanism of mammalian mtDNA replication have been expanded by recent data and discordant hypotheses. The presence of stable, nonreplicative, and partially hybridized RNA on the mtDNA template is significant for the reevaluation of replication models based on two-dimensional agarose gel analyses. In addition, the close association of a subpopulation of mtRNA with the DNA template has further implications regarding the structure, maintenance, and expression of the mitochondrial genome. These results demonstrate that variously processed and targeted mtRNAs within mammalian mitochondria likely have multiple functions in addition to their conventional roles.
authors.affiliation: Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia 20147-2408, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Ariana N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Tkachuk
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Clayton
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D016678:Genome; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D051379:Mice; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D015347:RNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D015347:RNA Probes; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012313:RNA