Abstract
ObjectiveMitochondria-encoded ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes in humans are expressed at a higher rate than protein coding genes of the mitochondria. The organization of the human mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is amenable to differential expression of rRNAs as the rRNA encoding genes lie in tandem immediately downstream of the promoter-containing region. However, mtDNA is not organized in the same way as humans in all metazoans. In the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, the rRNA genes are on opposite sides of the mtDNA molecule and there are no obvious promoter sequences specific to the rRNA genes. Thus, we asked whether rRNA levels are higher relative to mRNAs in mitochondria of C. elegans as they are in humans.ResultsUsing droplet digital PCR, we discovered that steady-state mitochondrial rRNA transcript levels are approximately 120 times higher than the levels of mitochondrial mRNAs. These data demonstrate that despite the lack of conservation in mitochondrial genome organization, a high mitochondrial rRNA-to-mRNA ratio is a conserved feature of metazoans.
Highlights
As some of the most ancient and essential structural components of ribosomes, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) constitute the majority of total cellular RNA in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes
Using droplet digital PCR, we discovered that steady-state mitochondrial rRNA transcript levels are approximately 120 times higher than the levels of mitochondrial mRNAs
These data demonstrate that despite the lack of conservation in mitochondrial genome organization, a high mitochondrial rRNA-to-mRNA ratio is a conserved feature of metazoans
Summary
Using droplet digital PCR, we discovered that steady-state mitochondrial rRNA transcript levels are approximately 120 times higher than the levels of mitochondrial mRNAs. Using droplet digital PCR, we discovered that steady-state mitochondrial rRNA transcript levels are approximately 120 times higher than the levels of mitochondrial mRNAs These data demonstrate that despite the lack of conservation in mitochondrial genome organization, a high mitochondrial rRNA-to-mRNA ratio is a conserved feature of metazoans
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