Maintenance of Mitochondrial DNA by the Caenorhabditis elegans ATR Checkpoint Protein ATL-1

C Mori, T Takanami, A Higashitani - Genetics, 2008 - academic.oup.com
C Mori, T Takanami, A Higashitani
Genetics, 2008academic.oup.com
Here we show that inactivation of the ATR-related kinase ATL-1 results in a significant
reduction in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Although ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) expression and the ATP/dATP ratio remained
unaltered in atl-1 deletion mutants, inhibition of RNR by RNAi or hydroxyurea treatment
caused further reductions in mtDNA copy number. These results suggest that ATL-1
functions to maintain mtDNA independently of RNR.
Abstract
Here we show that inactivation of the ATR-related kinase ATL-1 results in a significant reduction in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers in Caenorhabditis elegans. Although ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) expression and the ATP/dATP ratio remained unaltered in atl-1 deletion mutants, inhibition of RNR by RNAi or hydroxyurea treatment caused further reductions in mtDNA copy number. These results suggest that ATL-1 functions to maintain mtDNA independently of RNR.
Oxford University Press