This presentation deals with DNA replication in mamalian mitochondria. Mammalian mtDNA is replicated by proteins distinct from those used for nuclear DNA replication. According to the strand displacement model, replication is initiated from two distinct origins, OH and OL.
8. Mitochondrial DNA
mtDNA is double stranded circular DNA
molecule
mt DNA contain 37 genes for normal
mitochondrial function
13 genes make enzymes involved in oxidative
phosphorylation
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12. Maternal Inheritance of mtDNA
mtDNA is transmitted through the female egg
mtDNA is nonrecombinant
During fertilization, the sperm only contributes
its nucleus (23 chromosomes)
Mitochondria of the sperm cell are located at
the mitochondrial sheath which is destroyed
upon fertilization (there are some recent studies
that oppose this claim).
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14. The Mitochondrial Genome
16,569 base pairs (bp) in length (16-18 kbp)
Encodes for 37 genes, 13 proteins, 22 tRNAs,
and 2 rRNAs
Two general regions:
Coding region
Control region
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15. The Mitochondrial Genome
Mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited in
most species(Gyllesten et al., 1991)
It does not recombine (Hayashi et al., 1985)
Though some evidence of recombination events
has recently been reported (Eyre-Walker et al.,
1999; Hagelberg et al., 1999)
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16. NUCLEAR DNA MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
Found in the nucleus Found in the mitochondria
2 sets of 23 chromosomes
Each mitochondria may have several
copies of the single mtDNA molecule
Maternal and paternal Maternal only
Can “discriminate between
individuals of the same
maternal lineage”
Cannot “discriminate between
individuals of the same maternal
lineage”
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17. NUCLEAR DNA MITOCHONDRIAL DNA
Double helix Circular
DNA is packed into
chromatin
DNA is not packed into
chromosome
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Mitochondria are subcellular organelles found in most eukaryotic cells. These structures are often referred to as the ”powerhouses” of the cell since they produce most of the adensosine triphosphate (ATP) required in the cell. To this end, mitochondria contain essential enzyme systems involved in energy metabolism, such as the respiratory chain, the citric acid cycle, and the enzymes required for β-oxidation. Mitochondria also contain their own genome present in multiple copies. Genome: genetic material in a cell or organism. The mitochondrial genome is separate and distinct from that of the nucleus. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a small circular molecule that codes for some proteins in the respiratory chain and RNA molecules involved in translation of these proteins inside mitochondria. Mitochondria have their own DNA and express their genes to produce proteins active in the electron transport chain. However, most of the proteins they need are encoded in the nucleus of the cell. They need to import most of their proteins to function.
When studying the mitochondrion using electron microscopy it became evident that the mitochondrion has two membranes: one outer membrane and one inner membrane that was convoluted and folded into cristae.
The number and morphology of the cristae has been suggested to reflect the energy demand of the cell since highly folded cristae are found in cell types with high respiration such as muscle cells and neurons.
The morphology of the mitochondrion varies between different cell types and organisms. In some cells mitochondria have the shape of a bean whereas in other cells they form elongated tubules. A. Tubular-shaped cristae from hamster adrenal cortex (upper) and from Singh amoeba (lower). B. Mitochondria from adipose cells from little brown fat.
Singh amoeba (lower) B. Mitochondria from adipose cells from Myotis lucifugus (little brown bat). The cristae are seen in transverse.
11434 (A) and 11428 (B)).
The mitochondrial DNA is typically less than 1% of an animal cell’s DNA population. Mitochondria also contain their own genome present in multiple copies. Genome: genetic material in a cell or organism. The mitochondrial genome is separate and distinct from that of the nucleus. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a small circular molecule that codes for some proteins in the respiratory chain and RNA molecules involved in translation of these proteins inside mitochondria. Mitochondria have their own DNA and express their genes to produce proteins active in the electron transport chain. However, most of the proteins they need are encoded in the nucleus of the cell. They need to import most of their proteins to function.
Haploid refers to the reduced number of chromosomes in the ovum and sperm – half the (diploid) number in the somatic cells. In humans, there are about 20,000 to 25,000 protein coding genes and the mitochondrial DNA only contains 37 of those genes.
A schematic presentation of a mitochondrial genome (human). It is a closes circular molecule. It has 2 strands that can be separated on a cesium chloride gradient. One of the strands is named heavy strand (H-strand), whereas the other strand is named light strand (L-strand). The H-strand is the template for transcription of the majority of genes, whereas the L-strand is the template for ND6 mRNA and eight tRNAs .
SHAPE: double helix vs circular
Mitochondria use a genetic code that differs from the “standard” genetic code. As an example UGA, which is a stop codon in most organisms, codes for tryphtophan in vertebrate mitochondria.
It is said that we inherit mitochondrial DNA only from our mothers. In other words, the mtDNA can be passed down from mothers to both sons and daughters, but sons cannot pass along the mothers mtDNA to their children.
NONRECOMBINANT – it does not combine with any other DNA so that it is passed down virtually unchanged through the direct maternal line over the generations.
Because of its cytoplasmic location in eukaryotes, mtDNA does not undergo meiosis and there is normally no crossing-over, hence there is no opportunity for introgression of the father’s mtDNA. Introgression: entry or introduction of a gene from one gene complex into another (hybridization).
CODING REGION: responsible for the production of various biological molecules involved in "cellular respiration“
CONTROL REGION: responsible for the regulation of the mtDNA molecule
One’s mtDNA is nearly identical to the mtDNA of your straight line maternal ancestor who lived thousand of years ago, and it is also identical to thousands of people living today.
Human mtDNA contains only one longer region, which is non-coding, and it is called the non-coding region or the control region. This region contains the regulatory elements the origin of H-strand replication (OH) and the transcriptional promoters. The signature form of mammalian mtDNA is the displacement loop (D-loop) molecule. The D-loop is defined as a three-stranded structure with the nascent leading H strand defining the origin of leading-strand replication (OH).
Replication starts at a specific origin in the circular duplex DNA. But initially only one of the two parental strands (the H strand in mammalian mitochondrial DNA) is used as a template for synthesis of a new strand. Synthesis proceeds for only a short distance, displacing the original partner (L) strand, which remains single-stranded, as illustrated in Figure. The condition of this region gives rise to its name as the displacement or D loop