The mitochondrial genome Flashcards
What are mitochondrial functions?
- Haem Synthesis
- Generates ATP
- Apoptotic cell death
- Produces ROS
- Important in inflammation and innate immunity, surface of antibodies contain antibodies called the mitochondrial antiviral signalling complex/ MAVs
What is the structure of the mitochondrial genome?
- Double stranded circular molecule
- Consists of heavy and light strand
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Multicopy genome (10-100,000 copies per cell)
- 37 genes
- 13 oxphos protein subunits
- 22 transfer RNAs
- 2 ribosomal RNAs (required for translation of 13 encoding protein subunits)
- 37 genes
- No INTRONS
- D-loop is non-coding region where replication and transcription are initiated
- Maternally inherited, no recombination
What does the mitochondrial genome consist of and not have?
Consists of heavy and light strands and has no introns
How many genes does the mitochondrial genome have?
Has 37 genes
What are the genes present in the mitochondrial genome and the amount present?
-13 Oxidative phosphorylation protein subunits -22 tRNAs -2 rRNAs
What is the D loop in the mitochondrial genome?
Comment on processes and where they occur in mitochondrial DNA
The D loop is a non-coding region where replication and transcription are initiated
- mtDNA replication starts in Origin of heavy strand (OH)
- Transcription starts at Heavy strand promoter (HSP) and light strand promoter (LSP)
How is the mitochondrial genome inherited?
Maternally inherited, no recombination
What does the mitochondrial genome encode?
Encodes proteins of oxidative phosphorylation
- There are 13 OXPHOS proteins
- The first four are respiratory chain complexes (CI-CIV) and CV is ATP synthase
What does the non-coding region contain?
Contains regulatory sequences for replication and transcription
What is mtDNA packaged into?
Packaged into nucleoids
- There are 1 or 2 copies of mtDNA per nucleoid
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Transcription factor A (TFAM) acts as a histone protein
- Prevents it from being damaged and replicated
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Transcription factor A (TFAM) acts as a histone protein
Explain how mtDNA gives rise to haplotypes
Because mtDNA is maternally inherited it will give rise to haplotypes
Haplotypes = Group of alleles inherited together from a single parent
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mtDNA does not recombine, and mutations acquired over time subdivide the human population into discrete haplogroups
- This is used to track migration of human populations
- e.g mtDNA originally had main lineages L0 to L3, these gave rise to MNN which were then taken to different parts of the world giving rise to sub haplogroups
What does transcription factor A(TFAM) act as when mtDNA is packaged?
Acts as a histone protein
Genetic code in vertebrate mitochondria DNA vs nuclear DNA
-AUA and AUG code for methionine in mitochondria; whereas in nuclear DNA, AUA codes for isoleucine -UGA codes for tryptophan in mitochondria; whereas in nuclear DNA, it’s a stop codon -AGA and AGG are stop codons in mitochondria; whereas in nuclear DNA, it’s arginine
What is the endosymbiotic theory of the origin of the mitochondria?
- Primitive eukaryotic cell ingested a bacterium and the bacterium survived, the two organisms benefitted through a symbiotic relationship.
- The bacterium evolved to be what we now call mitochondria
What does the mitochondria require both of?
Requires both nuclear and mtDNA encoded proteins