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The curious history of yeast mitochondrial DNA

Nature Reviews Genetics volume 3, pages 475–481 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Forty years ago, soon after yeast mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was recognized, some animal versions of mtDNA were shown to comprise circular molecules. Supporting an idea that mitochondria had evolved from bacteria, this finding generated a dogmatic belief that yeast mtDNA was also circular, and the endless linear molecules actually observed in yeast were regarded as broken circles. This concept persisted for 30 years and has distorted our understanding of the true nature of the molecule.

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Figure 1: Electron microscopic image of isolated mouse circular mtDNA.
Figure 2

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Parasitology Division, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, NW7 1AA, London, UK

    Don Williamson

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DATABASES

Escherichia coli

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

FURTHER INFORMATION

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences

Mitochondria: origin

Glossary

APICOMPLEXAN

A protistan phylum that is characterized by an apical complex for penetrating host cells. All members are obligatory intracellular parasites, and the group includes the causative organisms of malaria and several diseases of humans and animals.

CAIRNS-TYPE ORIGIN

Named after their discoverer John Cairns, these are bi-directional replication origins that are found in many classes of DNA molecules.

CsCl DENSITY GRADIENT

DNA molecules of different buoyant density (usually determined by differences in base composition) can be separated by centrifugal sedimentation through a CsCl solution that is arranged to have a continuous gradient in density. By exposing the DNA to a dye known as ethidium

bromide, density gradients can also be used to separate circular and linear molecules.

GENE CONVERSION

The non-reciprocal transfer of information in either direction between homologous genes as a consequence of heteroduplex formation, followed by the repair of mismatches in the heteroduplex.

HOMOPLASMIC

A cell or individual whose chloroplasts or mitochondria all have identical genotypes.

15N DENSITY-SHIFT EXPERIMENT

The method by which DNA molecules that replicate in the presence of a nitrogen source containing 15N can be separated from non-replicating molecules by virtue of their increased buoyant density in CsCl gradients.

NUCLEOID

An aggregate of DNA molecules in bacteria or in cytoplasmic organelles such as mitochondria or chloroplasts.

POLYDISPERSE

Describes populations of molecules that occur in a continuum of sizes, with no specific discrete size classes.

ROLLING-CIRCLE REPLICATION

A mode of DNA replication used by circular DNAs that generates molecules that look like lariats. It was traditionally associated with certain bacterial plasmids and viruses, but is increasingly recognized as having a wider distribution.

ZONAL ROTOR CELL-CYCLE FRACTIONATION

The method by which microbial cells, such as yeast, which grow in size during the cell division cycle, can, at different stages of the cycle, be separated for bulk analysis by means of a so-called 'zonal centrifuge rotor'.

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Williamson, D. The curious history of yeast mitochondrial DNA. Nat Rev Genet 3, 475–481 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg814

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