Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. These organelles, found in all eukaryotic cells, are the powerhouse of the cell. [1] The mitochondria, and thus mitochondrial DNA, are passed exclusively from mother to offspring through the egg cell.
In general, mitochondrial DNA lacks introns, as is the case in the human mitochondrial genome; [144] however, introns have been observed in some eukaryotic mitochondrial DNA, [146] such as that of yeast [147] and protists, [148] including Dictyostelium discoideum. [149] Between protein-coding regions, tRNAs are present.
Mitochondrial matrix has a pH of about 7.8, which is higher than the pH of the intermembrane space of the mitochondria, which is around 7.0–7.4. [5] Mitochondrial DNA was discovered by Nash and Margit in 1963. One to many double stranded mainly circular DNA is present in mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondrial DNA is 1% of total DNA of a cell.
In humans, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) forms closed circular molecules that contain 16,569 [4] [5] DNA base pairs, [6] with each such molecule normally containing a full set of the mitochondrial genes. Each human mitochondrion contains, on average, approximately 5 such mtDNA molecules, with the quantity ranging between 1 and 15. [ 6 ]
The function of the D-loop is not yet clear, but recent research suggests that it participates in the organization of the mitochondrial nucleoid. [8] [9] The single third strand is also called 7S DNA. The primer used for 7S DNA synthesis is called 7S RNA. [10]
The mtDNA control region is an area of the mitochondrial genome which is non-coding DNA. This region controls RNA and DNA synthesis. [ 1 ] It is the most polymorphic region of the human mtDNA genome, [ 2 ] with polymorphism concentrated in hypervariable regions .
Horizontal transfer of mitochondria is the movement of whole mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA between cells. Mitochondria from donor cells are transported and incorporated into the endogenous mitochondrial network of recipient cells contributing to changes in the bioenergetics profile and in other functional properties of recipient cells. [ 1 ]
A diagram showing mtDNA (circular) and mitochondrial ribosomes among other mitochondria structures. The mitochondrial ribosome, or mitoribosome, is a protein complex that is active in mitochondria and functions as a riboprotein for translating mitochondrial mRNAs encoded in mtDNA. The mitoribosome is attached to the inner mitochondrial membrane ...