ER-mitochondria contacts couple mtDNA synthesis with mitochondrial division in human cells
University of California, Davis
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes RNAs and proteins critical for cell function. In human cells, hundreds to thousands of mtDNA copies are replicated asynchronously, packaged into protein-DNA nucleoids, and distributed within a dynamic mitochondrial network. The mechanisms that govern how nucleoids are chosen for replication and distribution are not understood. Mitochondrial distribution depends on division, which occurs at endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria contact sites. These sites were spatially linked to a subset of nucleoids selectively marked by mtDNA polymerase and engaged in mtDNA synthesis--events that occurred upstream of mitochondrial constriction and division machine assembly. Our data suggest…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 33.42
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 52
Authors
3Topics & keywords
- Mitochondrial DNA
- Mitochondrion
- Cell biology
- Nucleoid
- Biology
- Cell division
- Mitochondrial fission
- DNA replication