Multiple mitochondrial DNA polymerases in Trypanosoma brucei.

TitleMultiple mitochondrial DNA polymerases in Trypanosoma brucei.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2002
AuthorsKlingbeil MM, Motyka SA, Englund PT
JournalMol Cell
Volume10
Issue1
Pagination175-86
Date Published2002 Jul
ISSN1097-2765
KeywordsAmino Acid Sequence, Animals, DNA, Kinetoplast, DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase, Mitochondria, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Protein Structure, Tertiary, Protein Transport, RNA, Double-Stranded, RNA, Messenger, Sequence Homology, Amino Acid, Trypanosoma brucei brucei
Abstract

Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), the unusual mitochondrial DNA of Trypanosoma brucei, is a network containing thousands of catenated circles. Database searching for a kDNA replicative polymerase (pol) revealed no mitochondrial pol gamma homolog. Instead, we identified four proteins (TbPOLIA, IB, IC, and ID) related to bacterial pol I. Remarkably, all four localized to the mitochondrion. TbPOLIB and TbPOLIC localized beside the kDNA where replication occurs, and their knockdown by RNA interference caused kDNA network shrinkage. Furthermore, silencing of TbPOLIC caused loss of both minicircles and maxicircles and accumulation of minicircle replication intermediates, consistent with a role in replication. While typical mitochondria contain one DNA polymerase, pol gamma, trypanosome mitochondria contain five such enzymes, including the previously characterized pol beta.

Alternate JournalMol. Cell
PubMed ID12150917