Faithful and highly efficient RNA synthesis in isolated mitochondria from rat liver.

Isolated rat liver mitochondria in the presence of an appropriate incubation buffer are able to support DNA transcription and RNA processing in a way qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that used by intact cells. This system is also able to synthesize an RNA species of 155-175 nucleotides which probably corresponds to the 7S RNA, a type of RNA found so far only in growing cells. The role of this RNA in the mitochondrial replication and transcription processes, in relation to the cell metabolism, is discussed.