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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

High-Throughput Image-Based Quantification of Mitochondrial DNA Synthesis and Distribution
Published on: May 5, 2023
Autonomous replication activity of a human mitochondrial-DNA sequence inserted into genomic DNA
T Nielsen1, M Piatyszek, J Shay
1MCGILL UNIV,CTR CANC,MONTREAL H3G 1Y6,PQ,CANADA. UNIV TEXAS,SW MED CTR,DEPT CELL BIOL & NEUROSCI,DALLAS,TX 75235.
Abstract:
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments can be found inserted into nuclear DNA and may contribute to cancer and aging. A HeLaTG-cell nuclear transcript was shown to include human cytochrome oxidase subunit 3 (coxIII) mtDNA fused to c-myc sequences. Independently, a coxIII-containing cDNA was discovered to replicate autonomously in HeLa cells. We show that the HeLaTG mtDNA insertion has autonomous replication activity when transfected into HeLa cells and in a mammalian in vitro replication system. Replication in vitro starts within the fusion cDNA sequence. Insertion of an element which could function as a replication origin may affect cellular DNA replication and proliferation.
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