Abstract
We have identified a novel family of plasmids, each containing very short monomeric units, in Podospora anserina longevity mutants. These plasmids, termed small mitochondrial DNAs (sMt-DNAs), are derived from a highly ordered 368-base pair region of the mitochondrial genome. A total of five direct repeat sequences and seven significant regions of dyad symmetry (i.e. palindromes) were found within a 434-base pair mitochondrial sequence, which includes this 368-base pair region. Mitochondrial DNA rearrangements accompany the formation of these small plasmids indicating their derivation from a plastic region of the mitochondrial genome. A possible relationship between the direct repeat sequences, the palindromic regions, and the excision process is discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2250-2255 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Biological Chemistry |
| Volume | 262 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - Feb 15 1987 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology