Aprataxin localizes to mitochondria and preserves mitochondrial function.

ABSTRACT: Ataxia with oculomotor apraxia 1 is caused by mutation in the APTX gene, which encodes the DNA strand-break repair protein aprataxin. Aprataxin exhibits homology to the histidine triad superfamily of nucleotide hydrolases and transferases and removes 5'-adenylate groups from DNA that arise from aborted ligation reactions. We report herein that aprataxin localizes to mitochondria in human cells and we identify an N-terminal amino acid sequence that targets certain isoforms of the protein to this intracellular compartment. We also show that transcripts encoding this unique N-terminal stretch are expressed in the human brain, with highest production in the cerebellum. Depletion of aprataxin in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and primary skeletal muscle myoblasts results in mitochondrial dys

SUBMITTER: Sykora P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3088601 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature