Unstable mitochondrial DNA in natural-death nuclear mutants of Neurospora crassa

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4259-4264
Author(s):  
B L Seidel-Rogol ◽  
J King ◽  
H Bertrand
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Recessive Mutation ◽  
Natural Death ◽  
Mitochondrial Ribosomes ◽  
Large Deletions ◽  
Group I ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Mitochondrial Chromosome

The natural-death mutant of Neurospora crassa has an accelerated senescence phenotype caused by a recessive mutation, nd, in a nuclear gene that is located in linkage group I. An examination of mitochondrial functions, however, revealed that the mutant has phenotypic and molecular defects similar to those commonly associated with maternally transmitted fungal senescence syndromes, including (i) deficiencies in cytochromes aa3 and b; (ii) a deficit in small subunits of mitochondrial ribosomes, and hence defective mitochondrial protein synthesis; and (iii) accumulation of gross rearrangements, including large deletions, in the mitochondrial chromosome of vegetatively propagated cells. These traits indicate that the nd+ allele codes for a function that is essential for stable maintenance of the mitochondrial chromosome, possibly a protein involved in replication, repair, or recombination.

scholarly journals Unstable mitochondrial DNA in natural-death nuclear mutants of Neurospora crassa.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4259-4264 ◽  
Author(s):  
B L Seidel-Rogol ◽  
J King ◽  
H Bertrand
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Recessive Mutation ◽  
Natural Death ◽  
Mitochondrial Ribosomes ◽  
Large Deletions ◽  
Group I ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Mitochondrial Chromosome

The natural-death mutant of Neurospora crassa has an accelerated senescence phenotype caused by a recessive mutation, nd, in a nuclear gene that is located in linkage group I. An examination of mitochondrial functions, however, revealed that the mutant has phenotypic and molecular defects similar to those commonly associated with maternally transmitted fungal senescence syndromes, including (i) deficiencies in cytochromes aa3 and b; (ii) a deficit in small subunits of mitochondrial ribosomes, and hence defective mitochondrial protein synthesis; and (iii) accumulation of gross rearrangements, including large deletions, in the mitochondrial chromosome of vegetatively propagated cells. These traits indicate that the nd+ allele codes for a function that is essential for stable maintenance of the mitochondrial chromosome, possibly a protein involved in replication, repair, or recombination.

scholarly journals Mutations in nuclear gene cyt-4 of Neurospora crassa result in pleiotropic defects in processing and splicing of mitochondrial RNAs.

Genetics ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
K F Dobinson ◽  
M Henderson ◽  
R L Kelley ◽  
R A Collins ◽  
A M Lambowitz
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Northern Hybridization ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Group I Introns ◽  
Group I ◽  
Processing Pathways ◽  
Aberrant Rna

Abstract The nuclear cyt-4 mutants of Neurospora crassa have been shown previously to be defective in splicing the group I intron in the mitochondrial large rRNA gene and in 3' end synthesis of the mitochondrial large rRNA. Here, Northern hybridization experiments show that the cyt-4-1 mutant has alterations in a number of mitochondrial RNA processing pathways, including those for cob, coI, coII and ATPase 6 mRNAs, as well as mitochondrial tRNAs. Defects in these pathways include inhibition of 5' and 3' end processing, accumulation of aberrant RNA species, and inhibition of splicing of both group I introns in the cob gene. The various defects in mitochondrial RNA synthesis in the cyt-4-1 mutant cannot be accounted for by deficiency of mitochondrial protein synthesis or energy metabolism, and they suggest that the cyt-4-1 mutant is defective in a component or components required for processing and/or turnover of a number of different mitochondrial RNAs. Defective splicing of the mitochondrial large rRNA intron in the cyt-4-1 mutant may be a secondary effect of failure to synthesize pre-rRNAs having the correct 3' end. However, a similar explanation cannot be invoked to account for defective splicing of the cob pre-mRNA introns, and the cyt-4-1 mutation may directly affect splicing of these introns.

Involvement of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in splicing of group I introns in Neurospora crassa mitochondria: biochemical and immunochemical analyses of splicing activity

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 2089-2104
Author(s):  
A L Majumder ◽  
R A Akins ◽  
J G Wilkinson ◽  
R L Kelley ◽  
A J Snook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Molecular Mass ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Trna Synthetase ◽  
Synthetase Activity ◽  
Group I Introns ◽  
Group I

We reported previously that mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, which is encoded by the nuclear gene cyt-18 in Neurospora crassa, functions in splicing several group I introns in N. crassa mitochondria (R. A. Akins and A. M. Lambowitz, Cell 50:331-345, 1987). Two mutants in the cyt-18 gene (cyt-18-1 and cyt-18-2) are defective in both mitochondrial protein synthesis and splicing, and an activity that splices the mitochondrial large rRNA intron copurifies with a component of mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. Here, we used antibodies against different trpE-cyt-18 fusion proteins to identify the cyt-18 gene product as a basic protein having an apparent molecular mass of 67 kilodaltons (kDa). Both the cyt-18-1 and cyt-18-2 mutants contain relatively high amounts of inactive cyt-18 protein detected immunochemically. Biochemical experiments show that the 67-kDa cyt-18 protein copurifies with splicing and synthetase activity through a number of different column chromatographic procedures. Some fractions having splicing activity contain only one or two prominent polypeptide bands, and the cyt-18 protein is among the few, if not only, major bands in common between the different fractions that have splicing activity. Phosphocellulose columns resolve three different forms or complexes of the cyt-18 protein that have splicing or synthetase activity or both. Gel filtration experiments show that splicing activity has a relatively small molecular mass (peak at 150 kDa with activity trailing to lower molecular masses) and could correspond simply to dimers or monomers, or both, of the cyt-18 protein. Finally, antibodies against different segments of the cyt-18 protein inhibit splicing of the large rRNA intron in vitro. Our results indicate that both splicing and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase activity are associated with the same 67-kDa protein encoded by the cyt-18 gene. This protein is a key constituent of splicing activity; it functions directly in splicing, and few, if any, additional components are required for splicing the large rRNA intron.

scholarly journals Involvement of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in splicing of group I introns in Neurospora crassa mitochondria: biochemical and immunochemical analyses of splicing activity.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 2089-2104 ◽  
Author(s):  
A L Majumder ◽  
R A Akins ◽  
J G Wilkinson ◽  
R L Kelley ◽  
A J Snook ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Molecular Mass ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Trna Synthetase ◽  
Synthetase Activity ◽  
Group I Introns ◽  
Group I

We reported previously that mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, which is encoded by the nuclear gene cyt-18 in Neurospora crassa, functions in splicing several group I introns in N. crassa mitochondria (R. A. Akins and A. M. Lambowitz, Cell 50:331-345, 1987). Two mutants in the cyt-18 gene (cyt-18-1 and cyt-18-2) are defective in both mitochondrial protein synthesis and splicing, and an activity that splices the mitochondrial large rRNA intron copurifies with a component of mitochondrial tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. Here, we used antibodies against different trpE-cyt-18 fusion proteins to identify the cyt-18 gene product as a basic protein having an apparent molecular mass of 67 kilodaltons (kDa). Both the cyt-18-1 and cyt-18-2 mutants contain relatively high amounts of inactive cyt-18 protein detected immunochemically. Biochemical experiments show that the 67-kDa cyt-18 protein copurifies with splicing and synthetase activity through a number of different column chromatographic procedures. Some fractions having splicing activity contain only one or two prominent polypeptide bands, and the cyt-18 protein is among the few, if not only, major bands in common between the different fractions that have splicing activity. Phosphocellulose columns resolve three different forms or complexes of the cyt-18 protein that have splicing or synthetase activity or both. Gel filtration experiments show that splicing activity has a relatively small molecular mass (peak at 150 kDa with activity trailing to lower molecular masses) and could correspond simply to dimers or monomers, or both, of the cyt-18 protein. Finally, antibodies against different segments of the cyt-18 protein inhibit splicing of the large rRNA intron in vitro. Our results indicate that both splicing and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase activity are associated with the same 67-kDa protein encoded by the cyt-18 gene. This protein is a key constituent of splicing activity; it functions directly in splicing, and few, if any, additional components are required for splicing the large rRNA intron.

Hyperactive recombination in the mitochondrial DNA of the natural death nuclear mutant of Neurospora crassa

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6778-6788
Author(s):  
H Bertrand ◽  
Q Wu ◽  
B L Seidel-Rogol
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
General System ◽  
Natural Death ◽  
Dna Restriction Fragments ◽  
Dna Restriction ◽  
Recessive Mutant ◽  
Nuclear Mutant ◽  
Mitochondrial Chromosome

In Neurospora crassa, a recessive mutant allele of a nuclear gene, nd (natural death), causes rapid degeneration of the mitochondrial DNA, a process that is manifested phenotypically as an accelerated form of senescence in growing and stationary mycelia. To examine the mechanisms that are involved in the degradation of the mitochondrial chromosome, several mitochondrial DNA restriction fragments unique to the natural-death mutant were cloned and characterized through restriction, hybridization, and nucleotide sequence analyses. All of the cloned DNA pieces contained one to four rearrangements that were generated by unequal crossing-over between direct repeats of several different nucleotide sequences that occur in pairs and are dispersed throughout the mitochondrial chromosome of wild-type Neurospora strains. The most abundant repeats, a family of GC-rich sequences that includes the so-called PstI palindromes, were not involved in the generation of deletions in the nd mutant. The implication of these results is that the nd allele hyperactivates a general system for homologous recombination in the mitochondria of N. crassa. Therefore, the nd+ allele either codes for a component of the complex of proteins that catalyzes recombination, and possibly repair and replication, of the mitochondrial chromosome or specifies a regulatory factor that controls the synthesis or activity of at least one enzyme or ancillary factor that is affiliated with mitochondrial DNA metabolism.

scholarly journals Hyperactive recombination in the mitochondrial DNA of the natural death nuclear mutant of Neurospora crassa.

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6778-6788 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Bertrand ◽  
Q Wu ◽  
B L Seidel-Rogol
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
General System ◽  
Natural Death ◽  
Dna Restriction Fragments ◽  
Dna Restriction ◽  
Recessive Mutant ◽  
Nuclear Mutant ◽  
Mitochondrial Chromosome

In Neurospora crassa, a recessive mutant allele of a nuclear gene, nd (natural death), causes rapid degeneration of the mitochondrial DNA, a process that is manifested phenotypically as an accelerated form of senescence in growing and stationary mycelia. To examine the mechanisms that are involved in the degradation of the mitochondrial chromosome, several mitochondrial DNA restriction fragments unique to the natural-death mutant were cloned and characterized through restriction, hybridization, and nucleotide sequence analyses. All of the cloned DNA pieces contained one to four rearrangements that were generated by unequal crossing-over between direct repeats of several different nucleotide sequences that occur in pairs and are dispersed throughout the mitochondrial chromosome of wild-type Neurospora strains. The most abundant repeats, a family of GC-rich sequences that includes the so-called PstI palindromes, were not involved in the generation of deletions in the nd mutant. The implication of these results is that the nd allele hyperactivates a general system for homologous recombination in the mitochondria of N. crassa. Therefore, the nd+ allele either codes for a component of the complex of proteins that catalyzes recombination, and possibly repair and replication, of the mitochondrial chromosome or specifies a regulatory factor that controls the synthesis or activity of at least one enzyme or ancillary factor that is affiliated with mitochondrial DNA metabolism.

scholarly journals The human mitochondrial 12S rRNA m4C methyltransferase METTL15 is required for mitochondrial function

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (25) ◽  
pp. 8505-8513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Chen ◽  
Zhennan Shi ◽  
Jiaojiao Guo ◽  
Kao-jung Chang ◽  
Qianqian Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Function ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Nuclear Gene ◽  
Small Subunit ◽  
12S Rrna ◽  
Mitochondrial Rna ◽  
Small Subunit Rrna ◽  
Mitochondrial Ribosomes

Mitochondrial DNA gene expression is coordinately regulated both pre- and post-transcriptionally, and its perturbation can lead to human pathologies. Mitochondrial rRNAs (mt-rRNAs) undergo a series of nucleotide modifications after release from polycistronic mitochondrial RNA precursors, which is essential for mitochondrial ribosomal biogenesis. Cytosine N4-methylation (m4C) at position 839 (m4C839) of the 12S small subunit mt-rRNA was identified decades ago; however, its biogenesis and function have not been elucidated in detail. Here, using several approaches, including immunofluorescence, RNA immunoprecipitation and methylation assays, and bisulfite mapping, we demonstrate that human methyltransferase-like 15 (METTL15), encoded by a nuclear gene, is responsible for 12S mt-rRNA methylation at m4C839 both in vivo and in vitro. We tracked the evolutionary history of RNA m4C methyltransferases and identified a difference in substrate preference between METTL15 and its bacterial ortholog rsmH. Additionally, unlike the very modest impact of a loss of m4C methylation in bacterial small subunit rRNA on the ribosome, we found that METTL15 depletion results in impaired translation of mitochondrial protein-coding mRNAs and decreases mitochondrial respiration capacity. Our findings reveal that human METTL15 is required for mitochondrial function, delineate the evolution of methyltransferase substrate specificities and modification patterns in rRNA, and highlight a differential impact of m4C methylation on prokaryotic ribosomes and eukaryotic mitochondrial ribosomes.

NUCLEAR SUPPRESSORS OF THE [POKY] CYTOPLASMIC MUTANT IN NEUROSPORA CRASSA: II. Mitochondrial Cytochrome Systems

1977 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Bertrand ◽  
J. Kohout
Keyword(s):  
Neurospora Crassa ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Mitochondrial Cytochrome ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis ◽  
Ribosomal Subunits ◽  
Mitochondrial Ribosomes ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Growth Phenotype ◽  
Mitochondrial Cytochromes

The mitochondrial cytochrome aa3 and b deficiencies of the [poky] cytoplasmic mutant of Neurospora crassa are partially suppressed by mutant alleles of any one of six nuclear genes, namely sup-1, sup-3, sup-4, sup-5, sup-10 and sup-14. The suppressor-induced increases in the concentration of both cytochromes are detected in the mitochondria from exponentially growing [poky] cultures, and, thus, are clearly distinguishable from the age-dependent changes in the cytochrome system that occur in cultures that approach, or have reached, the stationary phase of growth. The relative amounts of mitochondrial cytochromes aa3 and b show a direct correlation with the relative efficiency of the various sup genes as suppressors of the slow-growth phenotype of [poky]. Since [poky] is defective in mitochondrial protein synthesis due to a lack of 30 S mitochondrial ribosomal subunits, it is proposed that the six suppressors promote the assembly of functional mitochondrial ribosomes.

scholarly journals Exploring the Ability of LARS2 Carboxy-Terminal Domain in Rescuing the MELAS Phenotype

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 674
Author(s):  
Francesco Capriglia ◽  
Francesca Rizzo ◽  
Giuseppe Petrosillo ◽  
Veronica Morea ◽  
Giulia d’Amati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein ◽  
Trna Synthetase ◽  
Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis ◽  
Mitochondrial Translation ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Carboxy Terminal Domain ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

The m.3243A>G mutation within the mitochondrial mt-tRNALeu(UUR) gene is the most prevalent variant linked to mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome. This pathogenic mutation causes severe impairment of mitochondrial protein synthesis due to alterations of the mutated tRNA, such as reduced aminoacylation and a lack of post-transcriptional modification. In transmitochondrial cybrids, overexpression of human mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS2) has proven effective in rescuing the phenotype associated with m.3243A>G substitution. The rescuing activity resides in the carboxy-terminal domain (Cterm) of the enzyme; however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this process have not been fully elucidated. To deepen our knowledge on the rescuing mechanisms, we demonstrated the interactions of the Cterm with mutated mt-tRNALeu(UUR) and its precursor in MELAS cybrids. Further, the effect of Cterm expression on mitochondrial functions was evaluated. We found that Cterm ameliorates de novo mitochondrial protein synthesis, whilst it has no effect on mt-tRNALeu(UUR) steady-state levels and aminoacylation. Despite the complete recovery of cell viability and the increase in mitochondrial translation, Cterm-overexpressing cybrids were not able to recover bioenergetic competence. These data suggest that, in our MELAS cell model, the beneficial effect of Cterm may be mediated by factors that are independent of the mitochondrial bioenergetics.

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