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AAT Bioquest

How is mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) organized?

Posted June 6, 2024


Answer

Mitochondrial DNA is bundled into structures called nucleoids, where it's managed and maintained by a variety of proteins. Among these, TFAM stands out as a key protein. TFAM belongs to the high-mobility group (HMG) of proteins and is characterized by its possession of two HMG boxes. TFAM's main function is to compact and organize mitochondrial DNA by bending and wrapping it into tight, compact structures within nucleoids. It ensures that mtDNA is neatly packaged and ready for efficient transcription and replication.

Additional resources

Organization of DNA in Mammalian Mitochondria

Mitochondria

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