Structural highlights
Function
TFAM_HUMAN Binds to the mitochondrial light strand promoter and functions in mitochondrial transcription regulation. Required for accurate and efficient promoter recognition by the mitochondrial RNA polymerase. Promotes transcription initiation from the HSP1 and the light strand promoter by binding immediately upstream of transcriptional start sites. Is able to unwind DNA. Bends the mitochondrial light strand promoter DNA into a U-turn shape via its HMG boxes. Required for maintenance of normal levels of mitochondrial DNA. May play a role in organizing and compacting mitochondrial DNA.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Publication Abstract from PubMed
Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) plays a critical role in mitochondrial transcription initiation and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) packaging. Both functions require DNA binding, but in one case TFAM must recognize a specific promoter sequence, while packaging requires coating of mtDNA by association with non sequence-specific regions. The mechanisms by which TFAM achieves both sequence-specific and non sequence-specific recognition have not yet been determined. Existing crystal structures of TFAM bound to DNA allowed us to identify two guanine-specific interactions that are established between TFAM and the bound DNA. These interactions are observed when TFAM is bound to both specific promoter sequences and non-sequence specific DNA. These interactions are established with two guanine bases separated by 10 random nucleotides (GN10G). Our biochemical results demonstrate that the GN10G consensus is essential for transcriptional initiation and contributes to facilitating TFAM binding to DNA substrates. Furthermore, we report a crystal structure of TFAM in complex with a non sequence-specific sequence containing a GN10G consensus. The structure reveals a unique arrangement in which TFAM bridges two DNA substrates while maintaining the GN10G interactions. We propose that the GN10G consensus is key to facilitate the interaction of TFAM with DNA.
A minimal motif for sequence recognition by mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM).,Choi WS, Garcia-Diaz M Nucleic Acids Res. 2022 Jan 11;50(1):322-332. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkab1230. PMID:34928349[6]
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
References
- ↑ Fisher RP, Lisowsky T, Parisi MA, Clayton DA. DNA wrapping and bending by a mitochondrial high mobility group-like transcriptional activator protein. J Biol Chem. 1992 Feb 15;267(5):3358-67. PMID:1737790
- ↑ Litonin D, Sologub M, Shi Y, Savkina M, Anikin M, Falkenberg M, Gustafsson CM, Temiakov D. Human mitochondrial transcription revisited: only TFAM and TFB2M are required for transcription of the mitochondrial genes in vitro. J Biol Chem. 2010 Jun 11;285(24):18129-33. doi: 10.1074/jbc.C110.128918. Epub, 2010 Apr 21. PMID:20410300 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1074/jbc.C110.128918
- ↑ Gangelhoff TA, Mungalachetty PS, Nix JC, Churchill ME. Structural analysis and DNA binding of the HMG domains of the human mitochondrial transcription factor A. Nucleic Acids Res. 2009 Jun;37(10):3153-64. Epub 2009 Mar 20. PMID:19304746 doi:10.1093/nar/gkp157
- ↑ Rubio-Cosials A, Sidow JF, Jimenez-Menendez N, Fernandez-Millan P, Montoya J, Jacobs HT, Coll M, Bernado P, Sola M. Human mitochondrial transcription factor A induces a U-turn structure in the light strand promoter. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2011 Oct 30;18(11):1281-9. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2160. PMID:22037172 doi:10.1038/nsmb.2160
- ↑ Ngo HB, Kaiser JT, Chan DC. The mitochondrial transcription and packaging factor Tfam imposes a U-turn on mitochondrial DNA. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2011 Oct 30;18(11):1290-6. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2159. PMID:22037171 doi:10.1038/nsmb.2159
- ↑ Choi WS, Garcia-Diaz M. A minimal motif for sequence recognition by mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). Nucleic Acids Res. 2022 Jan 11;50(1):322-332. PMID:34928349 doi:10.1093/nar/gkab1230
