Phosphorylation of rat mitochondrial transcription termination factor (mTERF) is required for transcription termination but not for binding to DNA. 2004

Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain.

Despite the crucial importance of mitochondrial transcription, knowledge of its regulation is poor. Therefore, characterization of mammalian mitochondrial transcription termination factor (mTERF) functionality and regulation is of fundamental biological interest in order to understand the regulation of mitochondrial transcription. Here we report that mTERF is the first protein having a role in mammalian mitochondrial gene expression that appears to be controlled by phosphorylation. Recombinant mature rat mTERF protein has specific DNA-binding capacity for the sequence required for transcription termination. Furthermore, unlike recombinant human mTERF, the rat protein bound to its mitochondrial DNA binding site promotes the termination of transcription initiated with heterologous RNA polymerase. Interestingly, mTERF is a phosphoprotein with four phosphate groups, and while the DNA-binding activity of mTERF is unaffected by the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation state, only the phosphorylated form of the protein is active for termination activity. Moreover, natural human mTERF is also a phosphoprotein and its termination activity is inhibited by dephosphorylation. These data suggest that mTERF functioning in vivo is regulated by phosphorylation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008930 Mitochondria, Liver Mitochondria in hepatocytes. As in all mitochondria, there are an outer membrane and an inner membrane, together creating two separate mitochondrial compartments: the internal matrix space and a much narrower intermembrane space. In the liver mitochondrion, an estimated 67% of the total mitochondrial proteins is located in the matrix. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p343-4) Liver Mitochondria,Liver Mitochondrion,Mitochondrion, Liver
D008969 Molecular Sequence Data Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories. Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D010744 Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases A group of hydrolases which catalyze the hydrolysis of monophosphoric esters with the production of one mole of orthophosphate. Phosphatase,Phosphatases,Phosphohydrolase,Phosphohydrolases,Phosphomonoesterase,Phosphomonoesterases,Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolase,Hydrolase, Phosphoric Monoester,Hydrolases, Phosphoric Monoester,Monoester Hydrolase, Phosphoric
D010766 Phosphorylation The introduction of a phosphoryl group into a compound through the formation of an ester bond between the compound and a phosphorus moiety. Phosphorylations
D011485 Protein Binding The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments. Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011994 Recombinant Proteins Proteins prepared by recombinant DNA technology. Biosynthetic Protein,Biosynthetic Proteins,DNA Recombinant Proteins,Recombinant Protein,Proteins, Biosynthetic,Proteins, Recombinant DNA,DNA Proteins, Recombinant,Protein, Biosynthetic,Protein, Recombinant,Proteins, DNA Recombinant,Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant DNA Proteins,Recombinant Proteins, DNA
D003001 Cloning, Molecular The insertion of recombinant DNA molecules from prokaryotic and/or eukaryotic sources into a replicating vehicle, such as a plasmid or virus vector, and the introduction of the resultant hybrid molecules into recipient cells without altering the viability of those cells. Molecular Cloning
D004268 DNA-Binding Proteins Proteins which bind to DNA. The family includes proteins which bind to both double- and single-stranded DNA and also includes specific DNA binding proteins in serum which can be used as markers for malignant diseases. DNA Helix Destabilizing Proteins,DNA-Binding Protein,Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Binding Protein,DNA Single-Stranded Binding Protein,SS DNA BP,Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein,Binding Protein, DNA,DNA Binding Proteins,DNA Single Stranded Binding Protein,DNA-Binding Protein, Single-Stranded,Protein, DNA-Binding,Single Stranded DNA Binding Protein,Single Stranded DNA Binding Proteins
D004272 DNA, Mitochondrial Double-stranded DNA of MITOCHONDRIA. In eukaryotes, the mitochondrial GENOME is circular and codes for ribosomal RNAs, transfer RNAs, and about 10 proteins. Mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA
D005786 Gene Expression Regulation Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control (induction or repression) of gene action at the level of transcription or translation. Gene Action Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression,Expression Regulation, Gene,Regulation, Gene Action,Regulation, Gene Expression

Related Publications

Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
January 2007, Nucleic acids research,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
August 2010, Biochimica et biophysica acta,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
November 2005, Journal of biochemistry and molecular biology,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
July 2020, Biochemical and biophysical research communications,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
August 2014, PLoS genetics,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
July 2005, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
February 2021, International journal of molecular sciences,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
January 2011, Genes & genetic systems,
Ascensión Prieto-Martín, and Julio Montoya, and Francisco Martínez-Azorín
April 2004, The Journal of biological chemistry,
Copied contents to your clipboard!