Regulation and function of the mitochondrial genome.

Molecular changes in human mitochondrial DNA play a significant role in causing certain human diseases. Mitochondrial DNA mutations range from single base pair changes in the 16.5 kilobase pair genome up to large deletions and rearrangements. This report summarizes the current overall understanding of the mode and mechanism of mitochondrial DNA replication and transcription, and how this relates to mitochondrial gene expression, which is essential for cellular energy production and organelle biogenesis. Special attention is given to recent findings that bear on early steps in the process of transcription and, in turn, the consequences for initiating DNA replication.