DNA sequence analysis of the oli1 gene reveals amino acid changes in mitochondrial ATPase subunit 9 from oligomycin-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Regulation of Aerobic Energy Metabolism in Podospora anserina by Two Paralogous Genes Encoding Structurally Different c-Subunits of ATP Synthase

Most of the ATP in living cells is produced by an F-type ATP synthase. This enzyme uses the energy of a transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. Proton movements across the membrane domain (F_O) of the ATP synthase drive the rotation of a ring of 8–15 c-subunits, which induces conformational changes in the catalytic part (F₁) of the enzyme that ultimately promote ATP synthesis. Two paralogous nuclear genes, called Atp9-5 and Atp9-7, encode structurally different c-subunits in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina. We have in this study identified differences in the expression pattern for the two genes that correlate with the mitotic activity of cells in vegetative mycelia: Atp9-7 is transcriptionally active in non-proliferating (stationary) cells while Atp9-5 is expressed in the cells at the extremity (apex) of filaments that divide and are responsible for mycelium growth. When active, the Atp9-5 gene sustains a much higher rate of c-subunit synthesis than Atp9-7. We further show that the ATP9-7 and ATP9-5 proteins have antagonist effects on the longevity of P. anserina. Finally, we provide evidence that the ATP9-5 protein sustains a higher rate of mitochondrial ATP synthesis and yield in ATP molecules per electron transferred to oxygen than the c-subunit encoded by Atp9-7. These findings reveal that the c-subunit genes play a key role in the modulation of ATP synthase production and activity along the life cycle of P. anserina. Such a degree of sophistication for regulating aerobic energy metabolism has not been described before.

In mitochondria, the ATP synthase (also referred to as complex V) catalyzes the late steps of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which is a process that provides aerobic eukaryotes with most of their energy requirements by generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules. While the structure and mechanism of ATP synthase are mostly well established, much remains to be learned about how cells and tissues modulate the production and activity of this enzyme. Herein we report the existence in the filamentous fungus Podospora anserina of a two-pronged energy regulatory mechanism that involves two nuclear genes (Atp9-5 and Atp9-7) that encode structurally different c-subunits of ATP synthase. This system enables a proper production of ATP synthase and optimizes the rate of ATP synthesis in mitochondria along the rather complex life cycle of this fungus.

Kinetic and hysteretic behavior of ATP hydrolysis of the highly stable dimeric ATP synthase of Polytomella sp

The F1FO-ATP synthase of the colorless alga Polytomella sp. exhibits a robust peripheral arm constituted by nine atypical subunits only present in chlorophycean algae. The isolated dimeric enzyme exhibits a latent ATP hydrolytic activity which can be activated by some detergents. To date, the kinetic behavior of the algal ATPase has not been studied. Here we show that while the soluble F1 sector exhibits Michaelis-Menten kinetics, the dimer exhibits a more complex behavior. The kinetic parameters (Vmax and Km) were obtained for both the F1 sector and the dimeric enzyme as isolated or activated by detergent, and this activation was also seen on the enzyme reconstituted in liposomes. Unlike other ATP synthases, the algal dimer hydrolyzes ATP on a wide range of pH and temperature. The enzyme was inhibited by oligomycin, DCCD and Mg-ADP, although oligomycin induced a peculiar inhibition pattern that can be attributed to structural differences in the algal subunit-c. The hydrolytic activity was temperature-dependent and exhibited activation energy of 4 kcal/mol. The enzyme also exhibited a hysteretic behavior with a lag phase strongly dependent on temperature but not on pH, that may be related to a possible regulatory role in vivo.

The strictly aerobic yeast Yarrowia lipolytica tolerates loss of a mitochondrial DNA-packaging protein

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is highly compacted into DNA-protein structures termed mitochondrial nucleoids (mt-nucleoids). The key mt-nucleoid components responsible for mtDNA condensation are HMG box-containing proteins such as mammalian mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) and Abf2p of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To gain insight into the function and organization of mt-nucleoids in strictly aerobic organisms, we initiated studies of these DNA-protein structures in Yarrowia lipolytica. We identified a principal component of mt-nucleoids in this yeast and termed it YlMhb1p (Y. lipolytica mitochondrial HMG box-containing protein 1). YlMhb1p contains two putative HMG boxes contributing both to DNA binding and to its ability to compact mtDNA in vitro. Phenotypic analysis of a Δmhb1 strain lacking YlMhb1p resulted in three interesting findings. First, although the mutant exhibits clear differences in mt-nucleoids accompanied by a large decrease in the mtDNA copy number and the number of mtDNA-derived transcripts, its respiratory characteristics and growth under most of the conditions tested are indistinguishable from those of the wild-type strain. Second, our results indicate that a potential imbalance between subunits of the respiratory chain encoded separately by nuclear DNA and mtDNA is prevented at a (post)translational level. Third, we found that mtDNA in the Δmhb1 strain is more prone to mutations, indicating that mtHMG box-containing proteins protect the mitochondrial genome against mutagenic events.

Loss of LRPPRC causes ATP synthase deficiency

Defects of the oxidative phosphorylation system, in particular of cytochrome-c oxidase (COX, respiratory chain complex IV), are common causes of Leigh syndrome (LS), which is a rare neurodegenerative disorder with severe progressive neurological symptoms that usually present during infancy or early childhood. The COX-deficient form of LS is commonly caused by mutations in genes encoding COX assembly factors, e.g. SURF1, SCO1, SCO2 or COX10. However, other mutations affecting genes that encode proteins not directly involved in COX assembly can also cause LS. The leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat containing protein (LRPPRC) regulates mRNA stability, polyadenylation and coordinates mitochondrial translation. In humans, mutations in Lrpprc cause the French Canadian type of LS. Despite the finding that LRPPRC deficiency affects the stability of most mitochondrial mRNAs, its pathophysiological effect has mainly been attributed to COX deficiency. Surprisingly, we show here that the impaired mitochondrial respiration and reduced ATP production observed in Lrpprc conditional knockout mouse hearts is caused by an ATP synthase deficiency. Furthermore, the appearance of inactive subassembled ATP synthase complexes causes hyperpolarization and increases mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production. Our findings shed important new light on the bioenergetic consequences of the loss of LRPPRC in cardiac mitochondria.

Oligomycin frames a common drug-binding site in the ATP synthase

We report the high-resolution (1.9 Å) crystal structure of oligomycin bound to the subunit c(10) ring of the yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase. Oligomycin binds to the surface of the c(10) ring making contact with two neighboring molecules at a position that explains the inhibitory effect on ATP synthesis. The carboxyl side chain of Glu59, which is essential for proton translocation, forms an H-bond with oligomycin via a bridging water molecule but is otherwise shielded from the aqueous environment. The remaining contacts between oligomycin and subunit c are primarily hydrophobic. The amino acid residues that form the oligomycin-binding site are 100% conserved between human and yeast but are widely different from those in bacterial homologs, thus explaining the differential sensitivity to oligomycin. Prior genetics studies suggest that the oligomycin-binding site overlaps with the binding site of other antibiotics, including those effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and thereby frames a common "drug-binding site." We anticipate that this drug-binding site will serve as an effective target for new antibiotics developed by rational design.

The oligomycin axis of mitochondrial ATP synthase: OSCP and the proton channel

Oligomycin has long been known as an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase, putatively binding the F(o) subunits 9 and 6 that contribute to proton channel function of the complex. As its name implies, OSCP is the oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein necessary for the intact enzyme complex to display sensitivity to oligomycin. Recent advances concerning the structure and mechanism of mitochondrial ATP synthase have led to OSCP now being considered a component of the peripheral stator stalk rather than a central stalk component. How OSCP confers oligomycin sensitivity on the enzyme is unknown, but probably reflects important protein-protein interactions made within the assembled complex and transmitted down the stator stalk, thereby influencing proton channel function. We review here our studies directed toward establishing the stoichiometry, assembly, and function of OSCP in the context of knowledge of the organization of the stator stalk and the proton channel.

Positive and negative control of multidrug resistance by the Sit4 protein phosphatase in Kluyveromyces lactis

The nuclear gene encoding the Sit4 protein phosphatase was identified in the budding yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. K. lactis cells carrying a disrupted sit4 allele are resistant to oligomycin, antimycin, ketoconazole, and econazole but hypersensitive to paromomycin, sorbic acid, and 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO). Overexpression of SIT4 leads to an elevation in resistance to paromomycin and to lesser extent tolerance to sorbic acid, but it has no detectable effect on resistance to 4-NQO. These observations suggest that the Sit4 protein phosphatase has a broad role in modulating multidrug resistance in K. lactis. Expression or activity of a membrane transporter specific for paromomycin and the ABC pumps responsible for 4-NQO and sorbic acid would be positively regulated by Sit4p. In contrast, the function of a Pdr5-type transporter responsible for ketoconazole and econazole extrusion, and probably also for efflux of oligomycin and antimycin, is likely to be negatively regulated by the phosphatase. Drug resistance of sit4 mutants was shown to be mediated by ABC transporters as efflux of the anionic fluorescent dye rhodamine 6G, a substrate for the Pdr5-type pump, is markedly increased in sit4 mutants in an energy-dependent and FK506-sensitive manner.

Suppression of a nuclear aep2 mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a base substitution in the 5'-untranslated region of the mitochondrial oli1 gene encoding subunit 9 of ATP synthase

Mutations in the nuclear AEP2 gene of Saccharomyces generate greatly reduced levels of the mature form of mitochondrial oli1 mRNA, encoding subunit 9 of mitochondrial ATP synthase. A series of mutants was isolated in which the temperature-sensitive phenotype resulting from the aep2-ts1 mutation was suppressed. Three strains were classified as containing a mitochondrial suppressor: these lost the ability to suppress aep2-ts1 when their mitochondrial genome was replaced with wild-type mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Many other isolates were classified as containing dominant nuclear suppressors. The three mitochondrion-encoded suppressors were localized to the oli1 region of mtDNA using rho- genetic mapping techniques coupled with PCR analysis; DNA sequencing revealed, in each case, a T-to-C nucleotide transition in mtDNA 16 nucleotides upstream of the oli1 reading frame. It is inferred that the suppressing mutation in the 5' untranslated region of oli1 mRNA restores subunit 9 biosynthesis by accommodating the modified structure of Aep2p generated by the aep2-ts1 mutation (shown here to cause the substitution of proline for leucine at residue 413 of Aep2p). This mode of mitochondrial suppression is contrasted with that mediated by heteroplasmic rearranged rho- mtDNA genomes bypassing the participation of a nuclear gene product in expression of a particular mitochondrial gene. In the present study, direct RNA-protein interactions are likely to form the basis of suppression.

Expression of an ATP-binding cassette transporter-encoding gene (YOR1) is required for oligomycin resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Semidominant mutations in the PDR1 or PDR3 gene lead to elevated resistance to cycloheximide and oligomycin. PDR1 and PDR3 have been demonstrated to encode zinc cluster transcription factors. Cycloheximide resistance mediated by PDR1 and PDR3 requires the presence of the PDR5 membrane transporter-encoding gene. However, PDR5 is not required for oligomycin resistance. Here, we isolated a gene that is necessary for PDR1- and PDR3-mediated oligomycin resistance. This locus, designated YOR1, causes a dramatic elevation in oligomycin resistance when present in multiple copies. A yor1 strain exhibits oligomycin hypersensitivity relative to an isogenic wild-type strain. In addition, loss of the YOR1 gene blocks the elevation in oligomycin resistance normally conferred by mutant forms of PDR1 or PDR3. The YOR1 gene product is predicted to be a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter family of membrane proteins. Computer alignment indicates that Yor1p shows striking sequence similarity with multidrug resistance-associated protein, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ycf1p, and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Use of a YOR1-lacZ fusion gene indicates that YOR1 expression is responsive to PDR1 and PDR3. While PDR5 expression is strictly dependent on the presence of PDR1 or PDR3, control of YOR1 expression has a significant PDR1/PDR3-independent component. Taken together, these data indicate that YOR1 provides the link between transcriptional regulation by PDR1 and PDR3 and oligomycin resistance of yeast cells.

Genetic instability of an oligomycin resistance mutation in yeast is associated with an amplification of a mitochondrial DNA segment

In the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis, mutations affecting mitochondrial functions are often highly unstable. In order to understand the basis of this genetic instability, we examined the case of an oligomycin resistant mutant. When the mutant was grown in the absence of the drug, the resistance was rapidly lost. This character showed a typical cytoplasmic inheritance. The unstable resistance was found to be associated with the presence of a repetitive DNA in which the repeating unit was a specific segment of the mitochondrial DNA. The amplified molecules were co-replicating with the wild type genome in the mutant cells. The spontaneous loss of the drug resistance was accompanied by the disappearance of the amplified DNA. The repetitive sequence came from a 405 base-pair segment immediately downstream of a cluster of two transfer RNA genes (threonyl 2 and glutamyl). Modified processing of these tRNAs was detected in the mutant. A possible mechanism by which these events could lead to drug resistance is discussed.

Amino acid substitutions in mitochondrial ATP synthase subunit 9 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leading to venturicidin or ossamycin resistance

A series of mitochondrially inherited mutants of yeast has been analysed, which were previously identified as showing resistance to the antibiotics venturicidin or ossamycin and whose mutations showed tight linkage to oligomycin-resistance alleles affecting subunit 9 of the mitochondrial ATP synthase. DNA sequence analysis of the oli1 gene of these mutants has been used to define the nature of amino acid substitution in the subunit 9 protein. In the case of the two venturicidin-resistant mutants, mutations affect amino acids on the N-terminal stem of the protein, namely Gly25----Ser (venR ossS oliR) and Ala 27----Gly (venR ossS oliS). The mutations found in the two ossamycin-resistant mutants affect amino acids on the C-terminal stem of the protein; namely Leu53----Phe (vanS ossR oliR) and Leu57----Phe (venS ossR oliS). These results allow us to further develop a fine structure map of domains within the subunit 9 protein involved in antibiotic interaction.

DNA sequence analysis of the Olir2-76 and Ossr1-92 alleles of the Oli-2 region of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Analysis of related amino-acid substitutions and protein-antibiotic interaction

Petite deletion mapping helped to generate a fine-structure genetic map of the Oli-2 region of the mitochondrial genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here we report the DNA sequence analysis of the Oli-2 region from two drug-resistant alleles (Olir2-76 and Ossr1-92) which are located in the gene for subunit-6 of mitochondrial ATPase, in agreement with their genetic locations on the mitochondrial genome. An analysis of the corresponding amino-acid substitutions is also presented in the context of protein-antibiotic interactions.

Amino acid substitutions in subunit 9 of the mitochondrial ATPase complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sequence analysis of a series of revertants of an oli1 mit- mutant carrying an amino acid substitution in the hydrophilic loop of subunit 9

This work concerns a biochemical genetic study of subunit 9 of the mitochondrial ATPase complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Subunit 9, encoded by the mitochondrial oli1 gene, contains a hydrophilic loop connecting two transmembrane stems. In one particular oli1 mit- mutant 2422, the substitution of a positively charged amino acid in this loop (Arg39----Met) renders the ATPase complex non-functional. A series of 20 revertants, selected for their ability to grow on nonfermentable substrates, has been isolated from mutant 2422. The results of DNA sequence analysis of the oli1 gene in each revertant have led to the recognition of three groups of revertants. Class I revertants have undergone a same-site reversion event: the mutant Met39 is replaced either by arginine (as in wild-type) or lysine. Class II revertants maintain the mutant Met39 residue, but have undergone a second-site reversion event (Asn35----Lys). Two revertants showing an oligomycin-resistant phenotype carry this same second-site reversion in the loop region together with a further amino acid substitution in either of the two membrane-spanning segments of subunit 9 (either Gly23----Ser or Leu53----Phe). Class III revertants contain subunit 9 with the original mutant 2422 sequence, and additionally carry a recessive nuclear suppressor, demonstrated to represent a single gene. The results on the revertants in classes I and II indicate that there is a strict requirement for a positively charged residue in the hydrophilic loop close to the boundary of the lipid bilayer. The precise location of this positive charge is less stringent; in functional ATPase complexes it can be found at either residue 39 or 35. This charged residue is possibly required to interact with some other component of the mitochondrial ATPase complex. These findings, together with hydropathy plots of subunit 9 polypeptides from normal, mutant and revertant strains, led to the conclusion that the hydrophilic loop in normal subunit 9 extends further than previously suggested, with the boundary of the N-terminal membrane-embedded stem lying at residue 34. The possibility is raised that the observed suppression of the 2422 mutant phenotype in class III revertants is manifested through an accommodating change in a nuclear-encoded subunit of the ATPase complex.

Altered form of subunit 6 of mitochondrial ATP synthase complex in oligomycin-resistant mutants of Chinese hamster ovary cells

Using an antiserum generated against a synthetic peptide predicted from the DNA sequence of the ATPase 6 gene of the mitochondrial DNA, we demonstrate that mitochondria from two oligomycin-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cell lines with a defined mutation in the ATPase 6 gene synthesize an altered ATPase 6 gene product. This altered gene product migrates in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels as if it has a molecular mass that is larger by 1000 daltons than the wild-type ATPase 6 gene product. We also demonstrate that mitochondria from four other independently isolated oligomycin-resistant Chinese hamster ovary mutant cell lines contain a similar altered ATPase 6 gene product. These results suggest that all six oligomycin-resistant cell lines have a similar mutation in the ATPase 6 gene of the mitochondrial DNA that encodes subunit 6 of the ATP synthase complex.

Nuclear and mitochondrial revertants of a mitochondrial mutant with a defect in the ATP synthetase complex

Yeast strain 990 carries a mutation mapping to the oli1 locus of the mitochondrial genome, the gene encoding ATPase subunit 9. DNA sequence analysis indicated a substitution of valine for alanine at residue 22 of the protein. The strain failed to grow on nonfermentable carbon sources such as glycerol at low temperature (20 degrees C). At 28 degrees C the strain grew on nonfermentable carbon sources and was resistant to the antibiotic oligomycin. ATPase activity in mitochondria isolated from 990 was reduced relative to the wild-type strain from which it was derived, but the residual activity was oligomycin resistant. Subunit 9 (the DCCD-binding proteolipid) from the mutant strain exhibited reduced mobility in SDS-polyacrylamide gels relative to the wild-type proteolipid. Ten revertant strains of 990 were analyzed. All restored the ability to grow on glycerol at 20 degrees C. Mitotic segregation data showed that eight of the ten revertants were attributable to mitochondrial genetic events and two were caused by nuclear events since they appeared to be recessive nuclear suppressors. These nuclear mutations retained partial resistance to oligomycin and did not alter the electrophoretic behavior of subunit 9 or any other ATPase subunit. When mitochondrial DNA from each of the revertant strains was hybridized with an oligonucleotide probe covering the oli1 mutation, seven of the mitochondrial revertants were found to be true revertants and one a second mutation at the site of the original 990 mutation. The oli1 gene from this strain contained a substitution of glycine for valine at residue 22. The proteolipid isolated from this strain had increased electrophoretic mobility relative to the wild-type proteolipid.

Biogenesis of mitochondria: a mutation in the 5'-untranslated region of yeast mitochondrial oli1 mRNA leading to impairment in translation of subunit 9 of the mitochondrial ATPase complex

A temperature-conditional mit- mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been characterized; the mutant strain h45 cannot grow at 36 degrees C on nonfermentable substrates yet appears to be normal at 28 degrees C. The mutation in strain h45 maps genetically to the oli1 region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome, and prevents the synthesis at 36 degrees C of the oli1 gene product, subunit 9 of the mitochondrial ATPase complex. Since the level of oli1 mRNA in mutant h45 is close to normal at 36 degrees C, it is concluded that there is a specific block in translation of this mRNA at the non-permissive temperature. DNA sequence analysis of mtDNA from strain h45 reveals an additional T residue inserted 88 bp upstream of the oli1 coding region, in the A,T-rich sequence that is transcribed into the 5'-untranslated region of the oli1 mRNA. Sequence data on two revertants show that one returns to wild-type parental (J69-1B) mtDNA sequence, whilst the other contains an inserted A residue adjacent to the T inserted in the original h45 mutant. The results are discussed in terms of the stability of folds in RNA upstream of putative ribosome-binding sites in mitochondrial mRNA, and the potential action of nuclear-coded proteins that might be activators of the translation of specific mitochondrial mRNAs in yeast mitochondria.

Amino acid substitutions in mitochondrial ATPase subunit 6 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leading to oligomycin resistance

The amino acid substitutions in subunit 6 of the mitochondrial ATPase complex have been determined for 4 oligomycin resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The data were obtained for each mutant by nucleotide sequence analysis of the mitochondrial oli2 gene. Amino acid substitutions conferring oligomycin resistance in subunit 6 are located in two conserved regions that are thought to form domains which span the inner mitochondrial membrane. The disposition of these amino acid substitutions is consistent with the view that these two membrane-spanning domains interact structurally and functionally with the DCCD-binding proteolipid subunit 9 in the Fo-sector.

Biogenesis of mitochondria: DNA sequence analysis of mit- mutations in the mitochondrial oli2 gene coding for mitochondrial ATPase subunit 6 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A series of yeast mitochondrial mit- mutants with defects in the oli2 gene, coding for subunit 6 of the mitochondrial ATPase complex, has been analyzed at the DNA sequence level. Fifteen of sixteen primary mit- mutants were shown to contain frameshift or nonsense mutations predicting truncated subunit 6 polypeptides, in various strains ranging from about 20% to 95% of the wild-type length of 259 amino acids. In only one strain could the defect in subunit 6 function be assigned to amino acid substitution in an otherwise full-length subunit 6. Many mutants carried multiple base substitutions or insertions/deletions, presumably arising from the manganese chloride mutagenesis treatment. Revertants from three of the mit- mutants were analyzed: all contained full-length subunit 6 proteins with one or more amino acid substitutions. The preponderance of truncated proteins as opposed to substituted full-length proteins in oli2 mit- mutants is suggested to reflect the ability of subunit 6 to accommodate amino acid substitutions at many locations, with little or no change in its functional properties in the membrane FO-sector of the ATPase complex.

The oli1 gene and flanking sequences in mitochondrial DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: the complete nucleotide sequence of a 1.35 kilobase petite mitochondrial DNA genome covering the oli1 gene

As part of our genetic and molecular analysis of mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae affected in the oli1 gene (coding for mitochondrial ATPase subunit 9) we have determined the complete nucleotide sequence of the mtDNA genome of a petite (23-3) carrying this gene. Petite 23-3 (1,355 base pairs) retains a continuous segment of the relevant wild-type (J69-1B) mtDNA genome extending 983 nucleotides upstream, and 126 nucleotides downstream, of the 231 nucleotide oli1 coding region. There is a 15-nucleotide excision sequence in petite 23-3 mtDNA which occurs as a direct repeat in the wild-type mtDNA sequence flanking the unique petite mtDNA segment (interestingly, this excision sequence in petite 23-3 carries a single base substitution relative to the parental wild-type sequence). The putative replication origin of petite 23-3 is considered to be in its single G,C rich cluster, which differs in just one nucleotide from the standard oriS sequence. The DNA sequences in the intergenic regions flanking the oli1 gene of strain J69-1B (and its derivatives) have been systematically compared to those of the corresponding regions of mtDNA in strains derived from the D273-10B parent (sequences from the laboratory of A. Tzagoloff). The nature and distribution of the sequence divergences (base substitutions, base deletions or insertions, and more extensive rearrangements) are considered in the context of functions associated with mitochondrial gene expression which are ascribed to specialized sequences in the intergenic regions of the yeast mitochondrial genome.