G-quadruplex dynamics contribute to epigenetic regulation of mitochondrial function

Single-stranded DNA or RNA sequences rich in guanine (G) can adopt non-canonical structures known as G-quadruplexes (G4). Predicted G4-forming sequences in the mitochondrial genome are enriched on the heavy-strand and have been associated with formation of deletion breakpoints that cause mitochondrial disorders. However, the functional roles of G4 structures in regulating mitochondrial respiration in non-cancerous cells remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that RHPS4, previously thought to be a nuclear G4-ligand, localizes primarily to mitochondria in live cells by mechanisms involving mitochondrial membrane potential. We find that RHPS4 exposure causes an acute inhibition of mitochondrial transcript elongation, leading to respiratory complex depletion. At higher ligand doses, RHPS4 causes mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication pausing and genome depletion. Using these different levels of RHPS4 exposure, we describe discrete nuclear gene expression responses associated with mitochondrial transcription inhibition or with mtDNA depletion. Importantly, a mtDNA variant with increased anti-parallel G4-forming characteristic shows a stronger respiratory defect in response to RHPS4, supporting the conclusion that mitochondrial sensitivity to RHPS4 is G4-structure mediated. Thus, we demonstrate a direct role for G4 perturbation in mitochondrial genome replication, transcription processivity, and respiratory function in normal cells and describe the first molecule that differentially recognizes G4 structures in mtDNA.