{
  "abstract": "Mitochondrial DNA replication and gene expression are essential for cell survival. In Trypanosoma brucei, a protozoan animal and human parasite, the mitochondrial RNA polymerase (mtRNAP, Tb927.11.5780) plays roles in both transcription and DNA replication. This study identifies and characterizes the first mitochondrial transcription factor (mtTF1, Tb927.6.4510) in the Kinetoplastea. The mtRNAP and mtTF1 form a high-molecular-weight complex that localizes to the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) and is essential for parasite survival in both life cycle stages. Their localization is interdependent, and both proteins influence maxicircle replication, but not minicircle replication. Knockdown of either protein results in altered gene expression, particularly affecting the minor strand of the mitochondrial genome. mTF1 specifically binds to kDNA and since it is unique to the Kinetoplastea, it might prove to be a promising drug target.\n\nHow mitochondrial transcription and DNA replication are coordinated in Trypanosoma brucei remains unclear. This study identifies mtTF1, the first mitochondrial transcription factor in Kinetoplastea required for gene expression and maxicircle replication.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute of Cell Biology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland",
    "Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland",
    "Department of Cellular Biochemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany",
    "Research Group Structure and Function of Molecular Machines, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Bianca Manuela Berger"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Enrico Santini"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Himaja Manjunatha"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Lea Trost"
    },
    {
      "name": "Markus Gerber"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hauke S. Hillen"
    },
    {
      "name": "Torsten Ochsenreiter"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3r3wtn1e1qaja.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3003945",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003945",
  "id": "3r3wtn1e1qaja",
  "issns": [
    "1545-7885"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003945",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2713|Trypanosoma species research and implications"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Bioenergetics/Energy-producing organelles/Mitochondria"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/DNA/DNA replication"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/DNA/Forms of DNA/Mitochondrial DNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Nucleic acids/RNA/RNA interference"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/DNA-binding proteins/Transcription factors"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Biochemistry/Proteins/Regulatory proteins/Transcription factors"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular structures and organelles/Energy-producing organelles/Mitochondria"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Cell biology/Cellular structures and organelles/Kinetoplasts"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/DNA/DNA replication"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/DNA/Forms of DNA/Mitochondrial DNA"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Epigenetics/RNA interference"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Gene expression/Gene regulation/Transcription factors"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Gene expression/RNA interference"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Genetics/Genetic interference/RNA interference"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Eukaryota/Protozoans/Parasitic protozoans/Trypanosoma"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Research and analysis methods/Precipitation techniques/Immunoprecipitation"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213926913",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003945&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-21",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3r3wtn1e1qaja.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pbio.3003945",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003945"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "plos:gene expression",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:cell biology",
      "subfield": "cell-biology"
    },
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:genetics",
      "subfield": "genetics-genomics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "The kinetoplastid-specific transcription factor mtTF1 is essential for mitochondrial gene expression and maxicircle replication in Trypanosoma brucei",
  "title_text": "The kinetoplastid-specific transcription factor mtTF1 is essential for mitochondrial gene expression and maxicircle replication in Trypanosoma brucei",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/3r3wtn1e1qaja",
  "venue": "PLOS Biology",
  "versions": []
}