We analyzed the polymorphisms TFAM HaeIII, TFAM MboI and FABP4 MspA1I in three Nellore lines selected for growth in order to evaluate how selection affects the frequencies of these polymorphisms and evaluate their association with growth and carcass traits in Zebu cattle. Birth, weaning and yearling weights, rump height, longissimus muscle area, backfat thickness, and rump fat thickness were an...

OBJECTIVE Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is normally bound to and remains associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) when released from damaged cells. We hypothesized that TFAM, bound to mtDNA (or equivalent CpG-enriched DNA), amplifies TNFα release from TLR9-expressing plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) by engaging RAGE. MATERIALS AND METHODS Murine Flt3 ligand-expanded splenocy...

For successful mitochondrial transgene expression, an optimal packaging exogenous DNA is an important issue. We report herein on the effects of DNA packaged with mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), which packages mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), on the transcription process. Our initial findings indicated that the transcription of the TFAM/DNA complex was activated, when the complex was form...

Human mitochondrial DNA is transcribed by POLRMT with the help of two initiation factors, TFAM and TFB2M. The current model postulates that the role of TFAM is to recruit POLRMT and TFB2M to melt the promoter. However, we show that TFAM has 'post-recruitment' roles in promoter melting and RNA synthesis, which were revealed by studying the pre-initiation steps of promoter binding, bending and me...

Mitochondria contain a 16.6 kb circular genome encoding 13 proteins as well as mitochondrial tRNAs and rRNAs. Copies of the genome are organized into nucleoids containing both DNA and proteins, including the machinery required for mtDNA replication and transcription. The transcription factor TFAM is critical for initiation of transcription and replication of the genome, and is also thought to p...

Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is required for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and transcription. microRNAs (miRNAs) act as key factors in the regulation of gene expression. However, the roles of TFAM and certain miRNAs and their association in cancer development remain unclear. The present study reported that the expression of TFAM was significantly increased in bladder canc...

Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is essential for the replication, transcription and maintenance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The role of TFAM in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unknown. Herein, we report that downregulation of TFAM in NSCLC cells resulted in cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and significantly blocked NSCLC cell growth and migration through the activa...

Initiation of transcription in mammalian mitochondria depends on three proteins: mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and mitochondrial transcription factor B2 (TFB2M). We show here that the recombinant mouse and human transcription machineries are unable to initiate transcription in vitro from the heterologous light-strand promoter (LSP) of mitocho...

Allostery through DNA is increasingly recognized as an important modulator of DNA functions. Here, we show that the coalescence of protein-induced DNA bubbles can mediate allosteric interactions that drive protein aggregation. We propose that such allostery may regulate DNA's flexibility and the assembly of the transcription machinery. Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), a dual-functio...

RATIONALE Although mitochondrial diseases often cause abnormal myocardial development, the mechanisms by which mitochondria influence heart growth and function are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To investigate these disease mechanisms, we studied a genetic model of mitochondrial dysfunction caused by inactivation of Tfam (transcription factor A, mitochondrial), a nuclear-encoded gene that is es...