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A reverse transcriptase activity in potato mitochondria

A Moenne¹, D Bégu, X Jordana

¹Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago, Chile.

Plant Molecular Biology

|May 1, 1996

Summary

Potato mitochondria possess a novel reverse transcriptase activity, utilizing specific RNA templates without needing primers. This enzyme

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Area of Science:

Mitochondrial biology
Molecular enzymology
Plant biochemistry

Background:

Mitochondria possess unique enzymatic machinery.
Reverse transcriptases are crucial for mobile genetic elements and genome maintenance.
The presence and function of reverse transcriptase in plant mitochondria remain largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and characteristics of reverse transcriptase activity in potato (Solanum tuberosum) mitochondria.
To differentiate this activity from known potato mitochondrial DNA polymerase.
To explore potential origins and functions of mitochondrial reverse transcriptase.

Main Methods:

Isolation of potato mitochondria.
Assay of reverse transcriptase activity using bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase (neo pa RNA) and Neurospora crassa mitochondrial RNA (184 nt RNA) as templates.
Inhibition studies using ddTTP, ethidium bromide, and aphidicolin.
DNA polymerase activity assays.
Southern blot analysis to detect conserved reverse transcriptase sequences in mitochondrial DNA.

Main Results:

A primer-independent reverse transcriptase activity was detected in potato mitochondria.
The RNA templates utilized share structural similarities with tRNA T psi CG loops.
The activity was inhibited by ddTTP and ethidium bromide, but not aphidicolin, distinguishing it from mitochondrial DNA polymerase.
A conserved reverse transcriptase sequence was identified in potato mitochondrial DNA.

Conclusions:

Potato mitochondria harbor a distinct reverse transcriptase activity.
The enzyme's primer-independent nature and template preference suggest a unique mechanism.
Evidence supports a potential mitochondrial origin for this reverse transcriptase, possibly encoded within the mitochondrial genome.

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