Replication Machinery of Kinetoplast DNA

Rachel Bezalel-Buch*, Nurit Yaffe, Joseph Shlomai

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) is a unique DNA network found in the single mitochondrion of trypanosomatids. It consists of several thousand duplex DNA minicircles and a few dozen DNA maxicircles, which are interlocked in a giant topological catenane. Replication of kDNA includes the duplication of free minicircles and catenated maxicircles, followed by the splitting and segregation of the progeny networks upon cell division. The remarkable machinery that carries out the replication process of this unusual mitochondrial genome is described here. Recent advances in the identification and characterization of replication proteins and in the regulation of kDNA replication, as well as the re-evaluation of the potential use of kDNA replication proteins as targets for the development of anti-trypanosomal drugs are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTrypanosomatid Diseases
Subtitle of host publicationMolecular Routes to Drug Discovery
PublisherWiley-VCH
Pages243-260
Number of pages18
ISBN (Print)9783527332557
DOIs
StatePublished - 4 Apr 2013

Keywords

  • Anti-trypanosomal drugs
  • KDNA replication
  • KDNA replication proteins
  • Kinetoplast
  • Trypanosomatids

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