title: Matrix proteases in mitochondrial DNA function.
abstract: Lon, ClpXP and m-AAA are the three major ATP-dependent proteases in the mitochondrial matrix. All three are involved in general quality control by degrading damaged or abnormal proteins. In addition to this role, they are proposed to serve roles in mitochondrial DNA functions including packaging and stability, replication, transcription and translation. In particular, Lon has been implicated in mtDNA metabolism in yeast, fly and humans. Here, we review the role of Lon protease in mitochondrial DNA functions, and discuss a putative physiological role for mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) degradation by Lon protease. We also discuss the possible roles of m-AAA and ClpXP in mitochondrial DNA functions, and the putative candidate substrates for the three matrix proteases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondrial Gene Expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Retardation & Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology & Psychiatry, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsushima
authors.forename: Laurie S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Kaguni
mesh_terms: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049071:Endopeptidase Clp / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D049070:Protease La / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; C499631:TFAM protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D049070:Protease La; C568646:ClpP protein, human; D049071:Endopeptidase Clp; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C114583:m-AAA proteases; C528384:CLPX protein, human