PrimPol is required for replication reinitiation after mtDNA damage.

Torregrosa-Muñumer, Rubén; Forslund, Josefin M E; Goffart, Steffi; Pfeiffer, Annika; Stojkovič, Gorazd; Carvalho, Gustavo; Al-Furoukh, Natalie; Blanco, Luis et al. · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2017

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Eukaryotic PrimPol is a recently discovered DNA-dependent DNA primase and translesion synthesis DNA polymerase found in the nucleus and mitochondria. Although PrimPol has been shown to be required for repriming of stalled replication forks in the nucleus, its role in mitochondria has remained unresolved. Here we demonstrate in vivo and in vitro that PrimPol can reinitiate stalled mtDNA replication and can prime mtDNA replication from nonconventional origins. Our results not only help in the understanding of how mitochondria cope with replicative stress but can also explain some controversial features of the lagging-strand replication.

Medical subject headings