Mitochondrial transcription in mammalian cells

• Published in: Frontiers in bioscience Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 835 - 853
• Main Author: Alexeyev, Mikhail F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore 2017
• Subjects: Adenosine Triphosphate - metabolism; Animals; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; DNA, Mitochondrial - metabolism; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases - metabolism; Humans; Mitochondria - metabolism; Mitochondrial Proteins - metabolism; Models, Biological; Promoter Regions, Genetic; RNA - genetics; RNA - metabolism; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; RNA, Mitochondrial; Transcription Factors - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptome
• ISSN: 1093-9946; 1093-4715; 2768-6698
• DOI: 10.2741/4520

As a consequence of recent discoveries of intimate involvement of mitochondria with key cellular processes, there has been a resurgence of interest in all aspects of mitochondrial biology, including the intricate mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA maintenance and expression. Despite four decades of research, there remains a lot to be learned about the processes that enable transcription of genetic information from mitochondrial DNA to RNA, as well as their regulation. These processes are vitally important, as evidenced by the lethality of inactivating the central components of mitochondrial transcription machinery. Here, we review the current understanding of mitochondrial transcription and its regulation in mammalian cells. We also discuss key theories in the field and highlight controversial subjects and future directions as we see them.