Mammalian RNase H1 directs RNA primer formation for mtDNA replication initiation and is also necessary for precise termination of mtDNA replication

The exact in vivo role for RNase H1 in mammalian mitochondria (mtDNA) has been much debated and we show here that it is essential for processing of RNA primers to provide site-specific initiation of mtDNA replication. Without RNase H1, mtDNA replication is instead initiated at non-canonical sites and becomes impaired. Furthermore, RNase H1 is also needed for replication completion and in its absence linear deleted mtDNA molecules extending between the two origins of mtDNA replication are formed. Finally, we report the first patient with a homozygous pathogenic mutation in the hybrid-binding domain (HBD) of RNase H1 causing impaired mtDNA replication. In contrast to catalytically dead pathological variants of RNase H1, this mutant version has enhanced enzyme activity. This finding shows that the RNase H1 activity must be strictly controlled to allow proper regulation of mtDNA replication. We used HydEn-seq to investigate the genome-wide distribution of ribonucleotides and 5' ends in hearts isolated from mice deficient in Rnase H1.