@article {1177,
	title = {Promoter selection in human mitochondria involves binding of a transcription factor to orientation-independent upstream regulatory elements.},
	journal = {Cell},
	volume = {50},
	year = {1987},
	month = {1987 Jul 17},
	pages = {247-58},
	abstract = {<p>Selective transcription of human mitochondrial DNA requires a transcription factor (mtTF) in addition to an essentially nonselective RNA polymerase. Partially purified mtTF is able to sequester promoter-containing DNA in preinitiation complexes in the absence of mitochondrial RNA polymerase, suggesting a DNA-binding mechanism for factor activity. Functional domains, required for positive transcriptional regulation by mtTF, are identified within both major promoters of human mtDNA through transcription of mutant promoter templates in a reconstituted in vitro system. These domains are essentially coextensive with DNA sequences protected from nuclease digestion by mtTF-binding. Comparison of the sequences of the two mtTF-responsive elements reveals significant homology only when one sequence is inverted; the binding sites are in opposite orientations with respect to the predominant direction of transcription. Thus mtTF may function bidirectionally, requiring additional protein-DNA interactions to dictate transcriptional polarity. The mtTF-responsive elements are arrayed as direct repeats, separated by approximately 80 bp within the displacement-loop region of human mitochondrial DNA; this arrangement may reflect duplication of an ancestral bidirectional promoter, giving rise to separate, unidirectional promoters for each strand.</p>
},
	keywords = {DNA, DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases, Genes, Genetic, Humans, KB Cells, Mitochondria, Mitochondrial, Promoter Regions, Regulator, Templates, Transcription, Transcription Factors},
	issn = {0092-8674},
	doi = {10.1101/gad.1352105},
	author = {Fisher, R P and Topper, J N and Clayton, D A}
}
