Organização funcional do DNA mitocondrial de mamíferos

quarta-feira, maio 25, 2011

Functional organization of mammalian mitochondrial DNA in nucleoids: History, recent developments, and future challenges

Johannes N. Spelbrink

IUBMB Life

Volume 62, Issue 1, pages 19–32, January 2010

Keywords: mitochondrial dynamics; nucleoid; mitochondrial DNA; segregation

Abstract

Various proteins involved in replication, repair, and the structural organization of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been characterized in detail over the past 25 or so years. In addition, in recent years, many proteins were identified with a role in the dynamics of the mitochondrial network. Using advanced imaging and an increasing number of cytological techniques, we have begun to realize that an important aspect to mtDNA maintenance, in both health and disease, is its organization within the dynamic mitochondrial network in discrete protein–DNA complexes usually termed nucleoids. Here, I review recent developments in the study of nucleoid dynamics and proteins. I will discuss the implications of the organization of mtDNA in nucleoids in light of DNA replication, repair, gene expression, segregation, and inheritance. 

© 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 62(1):19–32, 2010

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