Mitochondrial Genome Flashcards
What are the 4 functions of mitochondria?
→ Produce ATP
→ Haem synthesis
→ Neurotransmitter synthesis
→ Nucleotide synthesis
What does mitochondrial DNA look like?
→ Double stranded circular molecule
What does mitochondrial DNA consist of?
→ Heavy and light strand
multicopy genome-
How many genes does a mitochondria have?
→ 37
What are the mitochondrial genes for?
→ 13 oxidative phosphorylation protein subunits
→ 22 tRNAs
→ 2 ribosomal RNAs
Does a mitochondria have introns?
→ no
What is a D loop?
→ A non coding region where replication and transcription are initiated
How are mitochondria inherited?
→ Maternally with no recombination
Which of the OXPHOS proteins is not coded for by mitochondria?
→ succinate dehydrogenase
Complex 2
How is mtDNA packaged?
→ Nucleoids
How are nucleoids arranged?
→ one or two copies of mtDNA per nucleoid
What acts as a histone protein in mitochondria?
→ TFAM (transcription factor A)
Where does mtDNA replication start?
→ Origin of heavy strand (Oh)
Where does mtDNA transcription start?
→ Heavy strand promoter and light strand promoter
What are the exceptions to the universal genetic code in mitochondria?
→ AUA and AUG code for methionine (isoleucine in nuclear DNA)
→ UGA codes for tryptophan (stop codon in nuclear DNA)
→AGA and AGG are stop codons ( arginine in nuclear DNA)
What are the haplogroups of mtDNA?
→ M
→ N
→ H
→ L0-L3
What is the most common haplogroup in europe?
→ H
Why can mtDNA subdivide humans into discrete haplogroups?
→ It does not recombine
Describe the origin of mitochondria
→ a primitive eukaryotic cell ingested bacteria
→ the bacteria helped the cell become more complex
→ all bacterial DNA transferred to nucleus
→ remnant of DNA is mtDNA
Where do the proteins for replication, transcription and translation come from?
→ they are encoded by nuclear genes and imported into the mitochondria
What are the 4 requirements for replicating mtDNA?
→ polymerase gamma (POLG) - mtDNA polymerase
→ TWINKLE - mtDNA helicase - unwinds DNA
→ Single stranded binding protein (SSBP) - keeps DNA unwound
→ TFAM - packages and protects mtDNA
What is the composition of polymerase gamma?
→ heterotrimer
→one catalytic subunit (POLyA)
→ two accessory subunits (POLyB)
What does POLyA contain?
→ 3’ to 5’ exonucleases domain to proofread newly synthesized DNA
What is the function of POLyB?
→ enhances interactions with DNA template and increases activity and processivity of POLyA