Potential Roles for G-Quadruplexes in Mitochondria

Some DNA or RNA sequences rich in guanine (G) nucleotides can adopt noncanonical conformations known as G-quadruplexes (G4). In the nuclear genome, G4 motifs have been associated with genome instability and gene expression defects, but they are increasingly recognized to be regulatory structures. Recent studies have revealed that G4 structures can form in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) and potential G4 forming sequences are associated with the origin of mtDNA deletions. However, little is known about the regulatory role of G4 structures in mitochondria. In this short review, we will explore the potential for G4 structures to regulate mitochondrial function, based on evidence from the nucleus.