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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
12:35
Simultaneous Mapping and Quantitation of Ribonucleotides in Human Mitochondrial DNA
Published on: November 14, 2017
Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA coding for mitochondrial fumarase from human liver
Bioscience Reports
|October 1, 1986
Summary
Researchers identified the human mitochondrial fumarase protein by sequencing its complementary DNA (cDNA). This human fumarase shares significant structural similarity with bacterial fumarase enzymes.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Fumarase is a key enzyme in the citric acid cycle, crucial for cellular energy production.
- Understanding human fumarase provides insights into metabolic pathways and potential therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the nucleotide sequence of human mitochondrial fumarase.
- To characterize the protein structure and evolutionary relationships of human fumarase.
Main Methods:
- Complementary DNA (cDNA) library screening using fumarase antigenic determinants.
- Dideoxy chain termination method for nucleotide sequencing.
- Bioinformatic analysis for protein sequence comparison.
Main Results:
- A 1.46 kb cDNA sequence was identified, encoding a 468-amino acid protein.
- The deduced protein sequence corresponds to human mitochondrial fumarase.
- High structural identity was observed between human fumarase and bacterial fumarases (Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli).
Conclusions:
- The complete nucleotide sequence of human mitochondrial fumarase has been determined.
- Human fumarase exhibits significant evolutionary conservation with its bacterial counterparts.
- This finding contributes to the understanding of enzyme structure-function relationships and metabolic evolution.
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