The Synthesis of RNA by Isolated Rat Liver Mitochondria

Abstract

<P> Mitochondria contain DNA which is distinct from nuclear DNA. The capacity of isolated rat liver mitochondria to synthesize RNA and the types of RNA synthesized were examined in order to determine the genetic function of mitochondrial DNA. </p> <p> It was demonstrated that isolated rat liver mitochondria synthesize RNA, incorporating [3H]UTP, [3H] ATP,[3H]CTP and [3H]GTP in a DNA-dependent reaction. In addition, the DNA-independent incorporation of [3H]CTP and [3H]ATP suggested metabolic turnover of the CCA end of mitochondrial tRNA. </p> <P> Analysis of the , newly-synthesized RNA by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and agarose-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated that mitochondrial ribosomal RNA was synthesized in a DNA-dependent process. It is concluded that one of the genetic functions of mitochondrial DNA is to code for mitochondrial ribosomal RNA. </p>