| This dissertation probes the organization and roles of mitochondrial proteins in mitochondrial inheritance. Maintenance of mitochondrial organelle morphology and genome integrity depends on the coordinated activities of proteins present in both the outer and inner membranes as well as the matrix compartment. Using concurrent approaches of cytology, biochemistry, and genetics, this dissertation characterizes the protein machinery responsible for organizing mitochondrial genomes. Also, these approaches have been employed to develop an in vitro system to study mitochondrial organelle behavior and dynamics. |
