Abstract 1295 Exploring the role of the mitochondrial Hsp70 chaperone, Mortalin, in the mitochondrial DNA replication process

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication is essential for human cellular function. Aside from synthesis of the principal molecule for energy transfer and storage, mitochondria regulate events that signal the rest of the cell that it's under stress. The impaired integrity and/or abundance of mtDNA has been implicated in cancer and age associated pathologies, in addition to metabolic, degenerative and cardiovascular disease and disorder. While the core mitochondrial replisome, primarily governed by polymerase γ (Pol γ), mitochondrial SSB protein and Twinkle helicase (TWNK), is established, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the replisome function remain elusive.