D-MTERF5 is a novel factor modulating transcription in Drosophila mitochondria

The MTERF protein family comprises members from Metazoans and plants. All the Metazoan MTERF proteins characterized to date, including the mitochondrial transcription termination factors, play a key role in mitochondrial gene expression. In this study we report the characterization of Drosophila MTE...

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Published in:Mitochondrion 2012-09, Vol.12 (5), p.492-499
Main Authors: Bruni, Francesco, Manzari, Caterina, Filice, Mariacristina, Loguercio Polosa, Paola, Colella, Matilde, Carmone, Claudia, Hambardjieva, Elena, Garcia-Diaz, Miguel, Cantatore, Palmiro, Roberti, Marina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell Line
DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
Drosophila
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation
Gene Knockdown Techniques
Indexing in process
Mitochondria - genetics
Mitochondrial Proteins - genetics
Mitochondrial Proteins - metabolism
Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
Transcription, Genetic
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Summary:The MTERF protein family comprises members from Metazoans and plants. All the Metazoan MTERF proteins characterized to date, including the mitochondrial transcription termination factors, play a key role in mitochondrial gene expression. In this study we report the characterization of Drosophila MTERF5 (D-MTERF5), a mitochondrial protein existing only in insects, probably originated from a duplication event of the transcription termination factor DmTTF. D-MTERF5 knock-down in D.Mel-2 cells alters transcript levels with an opposite pattern to that produced by DmTTF knock-down. D-MTERF5 is able to interact with mtDNA at the same sites contacted by DmTTF, but only in the presence of the termination factor. We propose that the two proteins participate in the transcription termination process, with D-MTERF5 engaged in relieving the block exerted by DmTTF. This hypothesis is supported also by D-MTERF5 homology modeling, which suggests that this protein contains protein-protein interaction domains. Co-regulation by DREF (DNA Replication-related Element binding Factor) of D-MTERF5 and DmTTF implies that expression of the two factors needs to be co-ordinated to ensure fine modulation of Drosophila mitochondrial transcription.
ISSN:1567-7249
1872-8278
DOI:10.1016/j.mito.2012.06.010