          |
|
We used yeast DNA microarrays to analyse the mRNA populations associated
with free and mitochondrion-bound polysomes. The transcripts known
to encode mitochondrial proteins were present in both the mitochondrion-bound
and cytosolic fractions. Mitochondrion-bound mRNAs have a 3’UTR region
containing the major targeting signals active in vivo. Surprisingly, the
genes producing mRNAs that were preferentially targeted to the mitochondria
were of ancient bacterial origin whereas those producing mRNAs that were
translated in the cytoplasm were of eukaryotic origin. This observation,
consistent with recently formulated hypotheses that the mitochondrial proteome
has a chimeric origin, provides insight into the evolutionary history and
the biogenesis of mitochondria.
|
|
|
