MAINTENANCE AND INHERITANCE OF MITOCHONDRIAL DNA

The research in my laboratory is directed at understanding the mechanisms of maintenance and inheritance of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA). The research focuses on nucleus-encoded factors that are imported into mitochondria to regulate replication, recombination, repair, transcription, and translation of mtDNA. More specifically, my research investigates mitochondrial localized DNA helicases to understand why, in certain diseases, mtDNA is altered or lost under mutant conditions. Using bakers’ yeast (S. cerevisiae) as a model system, genetic as well as biochemical approaches will be employed. The ultimate goal of my research is to understand the full impact of dysfunctional mtDNA inheritance on human health, and, using this information, to design therapeutic interventions specific to treat mitochondrial diseases.(more )

Representative Publications:

1. Ivessa AS, Zhou JQ, Zakian VA The Saccharomyces Pif1p DNA helicase and the highly related Rrm3p have opposite effects on replication fork progression in ribosomal DNA. Cell (2000) 100: 479-489 PubMed
   
   
2. Ivessa AS, Zhou JQ, Schulz V, Monson EK, Zakian VA Saccharomyces Rrm3p, a 5’ to 3’ DNA helicase that promotes replication fork progression through telomeric and sub-telomeric DNA. Genes and Development (2002) 16: 1383-1396 PubMed
   
   
3. Ivessa AS, Zakian VA To fire or not to fire: origin activation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomal DNA. (perspective). Genes and Development (2002) 16: 2459-2464 PubMed
   
   
4. Ivessa AS, Lenzmeier BA, Bessler JB, Goudsouzian LK, Schnakenberg SL, Zakian VA The Saccharomyces cerevisiae helicase Rrm3p facilitates replication past non-histone protein-DNA complexes. Molecular Cell (2003) 12: 1525-1536 PubMed
   
   

Links:

United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

Concerted Action on Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Disease in Europe

Mitochondria Research Society

Mitochondrial Proteome Database

Saccharomyces Genome Database