Human mitochondrial transcription factor B1 methylates ribosomal RNA at a conserved stem-loop
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Updated: Sep 28, 2026

Methodology for Accurate Detection of Mitochondrial DNA Methylation
Published on: May 20, 2018
Bonnie L Seidel-Rogol1, Vicki McCulloch, Gerald S Shadel
1Department of Biochemistry, Rollins Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322-3050, USA.
Abstract:
Human mitochondrial transcription factor B1 (h-mtTFB1) has an unprecedented relationship to RNA methyltransferases. Here, we show that this protein methylates a conserved stem-loop in bacterial 16S rRNA and that the homologous sequence in the human mitochondrial 12S molecule is similarly modified. Thus, h-mtTFB1 appears to be dual-function protein, acting both as a transcription factor and an rRNA-modification enzyme.
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