Figure 3.

DNMT1 binding to mtDNA and the transcription of mtDNA‐encoded genes are regulated by geometric constraints. A) Schematic representation of the human mitochondrial genome with the indication of the locations of the primer sets for the chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. B) ChIP assay to determine the binding of DNMT1 to the D‐loop regions in purified mitochondria from unpatterned SMCs. Transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM) served as a positive control. Data were obtained from four biological repeats. C,D) ChIP assay to determine the binding of DNMT1 and MeCP2 to the D‐loop regions in micropatterned cells. Data were obtained from six biological repeats. E) The mRNA levels of mtDNA‐encoded genes were determined using quantitative RT‐PCR. Data were obtained from ten biological repeats. Significance was assessed using B) one‐way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc analysis or C–E) a Student's t‐test. The error bars show ± SD. The exact P values between the indicated groups are presented.