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Mitochondrial Gene Expression and Dysfunction in Model Protozoa

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Abstract

Protozoan mitochondrial genomes are extraordinarily diverse in size, structure and gene organisation. Protozoan mitochondrial gene expression has been studied most extensively in the cellular slime mould, Dictyostelium discoideum, using various techniques that include northern hybridization and primer extension analyses to identify mitochondrial transcripts and their 5′ ends, Reverse Transcription–Polymerase Chain Reactions to identify transcripts not detectable by hybridization, in vitro capping to label transcripts generated by transcription initiation, mobility shift assays to identify protein-binding DNA sequences and in bacterio transcription to examine the function of these sequences. The results show that the 56 kb D. discoideum mitochondrial genome is transcribed from a single, unidirectional promoter and that the resulting polycistronic transcript is processed co-transcriptionally to produce mature mRNA, rRNA and tRNA molecules. For comparison, salient features of gene expression in mammalian and yeast mitochondria are described. D. discoideum is now an established model system for studying mitochondrial disease created by targeted gene disruption or by knocking down expression of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins. Diverse cytopathologies ensue because of chronic dysregulation of intracellular signalling pathways, including hyperactivity of an energy-sensing protein kinase, AMP-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    Christian Barth, Luke A. Kennedy & Paul R. Fisher

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  1. Christian Barth
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  2. Luke A. Kennedy
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  3. Paul R. Fisher
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Correspondence to Christian Barth .

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  1. , Departments of Biology and Biochemistry, Mount Allison University, York Street 63B, Sackville, E4L 1G7, New Brunswick, Canada

    Charles E. Bullerwell

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Barth, C., Kennedy, L.A., Fisher, P.R. (2012). Mitochondrial Gene Expression and Dysfunction in Model Protozoa. In: Bullerwell, C. (eds) Organelle Genetics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22380-8_10

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