西藏小型猪线粒体D-loop区及微卫星多态性的遗传学分析

目的通过分析西藏小型猪线粒体控制区(D-loop区)及微卫星位点的遗传多态性,检测西藏小型猪的遗传背景,从而为其作为实验动物提供分子生物学方面的可靠依据。方法利用特异性引物对西藏小型猪的线粒体D-loop区及10个具有多态性的微卫星位点进行扩增,割胶纯化并对线粒体D-loop区进行测序,另外采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳的方法分离微卫星位点的等位基因。结果西藏小型猪线粒体D-loop区全序列没有多态性,微卫星位点则具有高度的遗传多态性和杂合度,分别为0.584和0.573。结论西藏小型猪线粒体基因组无多态性,证明其在母系进化和遗传上与其他猪种较为一致,本实验所用的西藏小型猪生长于一个封闭的环境,导致其微卫星位点遗传多态性的中低度水平。     

Protein binding to a single termination-associated sequence in the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region.

A methylation protection assay was used in a novel manner to demonstrate a specific bovine protein-mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) interaction within the organelle (in organello). The protected domain, located near the D-loop 3' end, encompasses a conserved termination-associated sequence (TAS) element which is thought to be involved in the regulation of mtDNA synthesis. In vitro footprinting studies using a bovine mitochondrial extract and a series of deleted mtDNA templates identified a approximately 48-kDa protein which binds specifically to a single TAS element also protected within the mitochondrion. Because other TAS-like elements located in close proximity to the protected region did not footprint, protein binding appears to be highly sequence specific. The in organello and in vitro data, together, provide evidence that D-loop formation is likely to be mediated, at least in part, through a trans-acting factor binding to a conserved sequence element located 58 bp upstream of the D-loop 3' end.     

Sequence variation and structural conservation in the D-loop region and flanking genes of mitochondrial DNA from Japanese pond frogs

The nucleotide sequences of the D-loop region and its flanking genes of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from Japanese pond frogs were determined by the methods of PCR, cloning, and sequencing. The frogs belonged to two species, one subspecies, and one local race. The gene arrangements adjacent to the D-loop region were analyzed. The frogs shared a unique mitochondrial gene order that was found in Rana catesbeiana; i.e., cyt b--D-loop region--tRNA(Leu(CUN))--tRNA(Thr)--tRNA(Pro)--tRNA(Phe)--12S rRNA. The arrangements of the three tRNA genes of these frogs were different from those of X. laevis, a species which has the same overall structure as in mammals. Highly repetitive sequences with repeat units (16-bp or 17-bp sequence specific for each taxon) were found in the D-loop region. The length of repetitive sequences varied from 0.6 kbp to 1.2 kbp, and caused the extensive size variation in mtDNA. Several short sequence elements such as putative TAS, OH, CSB-1, and CSB-2 were found in the D-loop region of these frogs. The sequences of these short regulatory elements were conserved in R. catesbeiana, X. laevis, and also in human. The comparison of sequence divergences of the D-loop region and its adjacent genes among various taxa revealed that the rates of nucleotide substitutions depend on genes. The nucleotide sequences of the 3'-side segment of the D-loop region were the most variable among taxa, whereas those of the tRNA and 12S rRNA genes were the most conservative.     

Release of replication termination controls mitochondrial DNA copy number after depletion with 2',3'-dideoxycytidine

Although cellular mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number varies widely among cell lines and tissues, little is known about the mechanism of mtDNA copy number control. Most nascent replication strands from the leading, heavy-strand origin (O_H) are prematurely terminated, defining the 3′ boundary of the displacement loop (D-loop). We have depleted mouse LA9 cell mtDNA to ~20% of normal levels by treating with 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC) and subsequently allowed recovery to normal levels of mtDNA. A quantitative ligation-mediated PCR assay was used to determine the levels of both terminated and extended nascent O_H strands during mtDNA depletion and repopulation. Depleting mtDNA leads to a release of replication termination until mtDNA copy number approaches a normal level. Detectable total nascent strands per mtDNA genome remain below normal. Therefore, it is likely that the level of replication termination plays a significant role in copy number regulation in this system. However, termination of D-loop strand synthesis is persistent, indicating formation of the D-loop structure has a purpose that is required under conditions of rapid recovery of depleted mtDNA.     

Unique features in the mitochondrial D-loop region of the European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax

We have cloned and sequenced the displacement-loop (D-loop) region of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the European seabass Dicentrarchus labrax (Dl). This sequencing revealed the presence of four tandemly repeated elements (R1, R2, R3 and R4); the individual variation in mtDNA total length is entirely accounted for by their variable number. The individuals examined also possessed an imperfect copy of one of the tandem repeats (ΨR2). At least one termination-associated sequence (TAS) is present in each of the repeats and in two copies 5′ upstream from the tandem array as well. The alignment of the Dl D-loop region with D-loop sequences from four other Teleosts and one Chondrosteus showed the Dl sequence to be larger than that of other fish. The extraordinary length of the D1 D-loop sequence is also due to the 5′ and 3′ regions that are flanking the tandem array, the largest ones to date analyzed in fish. In this study, we also report the unique organization and localization of putative TAS and conserved-sequence block (CSB) elements, and the presence of a conserved 218-bp sequence in the D1 D-loop region.     

Somatic mutations in the D-loop and decrease in the copy number of mitochondrial DNA in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Somatic mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been detected in many human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The D-loop region was found to be a "hot spot" for mutation in mtDNA of the tumors. However, effects of the D-loop mutations on the copy number of mtDNA in tumor tissues are poorly understood. Using direct sequencing, we examined mutations in the D-loop region of mtDNA in 61 HCCs and the corresponding non-tumor liver tissues. The results revealed that 39.3% of the HCCs carried somatic mutation(s) in the D-loop of mtDNA, and most of these mutations were homoplasmic. Moreover, 37.0% (10/27) of these mutations were T-to-C and G-to-A transitions and 40.7% (11/27) of them were located in the polycytidine stretch between nucleotide position (np) 303 and 309 of mtDNA. In addition, we found that mtDNA copy number of HCC was significantly decreased in 60.5% of the patients with hepatoma, especially in those with somatic mutation(s) in the D-loop of mtDNA (17/24). This decrease in mtDNA copy number was highly associated with the occurrence of point mutations near the replication origin of the heavy-strand of mtDNA. Interestingly, we found that 42.9% (6/14) of the HCCs without mutation in the D-loop had a reduced copy number of mtDNA, indicating that other unidentified factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis might be defective in the tumor. The results obtained in this study strongly suggest that somatic mutations in the D-loop together with the decrease in the copy number of mtDNA may be an important event during the early phase of liver carcinogenesis.     

High frequency of mitochondrial DNA D-loop mutations in Ewing’s sarcoma

Somatic mutations and polymorphisms in the noncoding displacement (D)-loop of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are present in a variety of human cancers. To investigate whether Ewing’s sarcoma (EWS) harbors genetic alterations within the D-loop region and their potential association with EWS carcinogenesis, we analyzed and compared the complete mtDNA D-loop sequences from 17 pairs of tumor tissues and corresponding peripheral blood samples using the direct DNA sequencing method. Our results revealed that 12 of the 17 EWS tumor specimens (70.6%) carried 19 somatic mutations in the D-loop of mtDNA, including 11 single-base substitutions, 3 insertions and 5 deletions. Among the tested 17 patients, we screened a total of 40 germline polymorphisms including one novel sequence variant in the D-loop fragment. Most of these identified mutations and germline variations were clustered within two hypervariable segments (HVS1 and HVS2) as well as the homopolymeric C stretch between nucleotide position 303 and 309. In addition, there was no significant correlation between mtDNA D-loop mutations and various clinicopathological factors of EWS. In conclusion, our study reports for the first time that mtDNA D-loop mutations occur at a high frequency in EWS. These data provide evidence of mtDNA alterations’ possible involvement in the initiation and/or progression of this rare malignancy.     

口腔鳞状细胞癌线粒体DNA的HVRⅢ区突变的研究（英文）

目的：检测口腔鳞状细胞癌患者线粒体DNA复制控制区（mtDNA D-loop）高变Ⅲ区（hypervariable regionⅢ,HVRⅢ）的突变情况,并探讨其意义。方法：以口腔鳞状细胞癌患者癌旁组织及正常组织作为对照,对7例口腔鳞状细胞癌组织样本的mtDNA D-loop HVRⅢ区进行PCR扩增和测序分析。结果：在7例患者的癌组织、癌旁组织、正常组织样本中共发现72个（56种）核苷酸改变,其中51个（26种）为核苷酸多态性改变;3个肿瘤组织样本中共发现21个突变,其中16个位于HVRⅢ区范围内;癌旁组织及正常组织未发现突变;口腔鳞状细胞癌的mtDNA D-loop HVRⅢ区突变率为42.9%（3/7）。结论：mtDNA D-loop HVRⅢ区的变异可能与口腔鳞状细胞癌的易感性有一定的联系;本研究为寻找新的肿瘤基因诊断和肿瘤遗传易感性的标志物提供了依据。     

中国三种实验用小型猪线粒体DNAD-loop多态性分析

分析中国三种实验用小型猪线粒体DNA（mtDNA）D-loop的多态性,建立各品种品系猪的遗传标记,为各品种、品系猪的鉴别提供依据。应用PCR技术分别对西双版纳近交系小耳猪、广西巴马小型猪、贵州小型香猪和长白猪的血液总DNA样品中mtDNAD-loop进行扩增,用23种限制性内切酶消化,观察其酶切多态。PCR扩增其mtDNAD-loop5′端227bp高变区域,应用PCR?SSCP和PCR直接测序分析,观察其单链构象多态和序列多态。结果显示：三种小型猪之间未见酶切长度多态、单链构象多态和序列多态。与长白猪之间表现出单链构象多态和序列多态。本研究认为：三种实验用小型猪之间mtDNA多态性贫乏,证明其亲源关系很近,在母系起源和进化上有一致性,应用PCR RFLP、PCR SSCP和PCR直接测序分析,尚不能作为三种实验用小型猪品种、品系鉴定的依据,但与长白猪等欧系猪比较有一定差异。 Abstract：the present study is to analyze the polymorphism of the mtDNA D-loop in three breeds of laboratory miniature pigs in China , and to establish its cytoplasmic DNA markers to distinguish among them . The polymorphism of mtDNA D-loop and its 5′-end high variable regions were detected by PCR-RFLP , PCR-SSCP and PCR-direct sequencing on Xishuangbanna Small-ear inbred pig, Guizhou miniature Xiang pig , Guangxi Bama miniature pig and Landrace.There was no polymorphism obtained among or within three breeds of Chinese laboratory miniature pigs besides Landrace. It is concluded that the polymorphism of mtDNA D-loop within the three breeds of Chinese laboratory miniature pigs is poor , These methods cannot be used to distinguish among them , but it can be used to distinguish them from Landrace.     

Mitochondrial DNA mutations in patients with HRHPV-related cervical lesions

High risk human papillomaviruses (hr-HPV) are known to be the etiological agents of cervical cancer disease. On the other hand, other cofactors are considered to be important in cervix carcinogenesis. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as well as alterations in mtDNA content have been reported in numerous cancers examined to date. The D-loop region has been shown to be a mutational "hot spot" in human cancer. In order to evaluate the role of mtDNA mutations in cervical lesions progression, cervical specimens (from 79 women, 29-65 years old) were investigated. DNA was isolated (High Pure PCR Template, Roche Diagnostics) from cervical cells from patients with different cytology (normal cervical epithelium, ASCUS-Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance, LGSIL-Low-Grade Intraepithelial Lesion, HGSIL-High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesion and SCC-Squamous Cell Carcinoma) and tested for HPV DNA presence (Linear Array HPV Genotyping Test, Roche Diagnostics). To elucidate a causative role of mtDNA in cervical lesions, mtDNA mutations were investigated using Mutector mtDNA kit (TrimGen Corporation). In patients with normal and ASCUS cytology, mtDNA mutations were absent. 16.66% of LGSIL patients presented mutations in D-loop region whereas 28.57% HGSIL cases showed mutations in mtDNA. Mutations were detected in 66.66% cases of SCC cases. These studies provide strong evidence that instability in the D-loop region of mtDNA may be involved in cervical dysplasia. We suggested that mtDNA mutations may play a role in cervical precursor lesions and cancer but their role in the mechanism of carcinogenesis remains to be solved.     

Nucleotide sequence variation is frequent in the mitochondrial DNA displacement loop region of individual human tumor cells

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) displacement loop (D-loop) regions of 76 various tumor cell lines were examined to investigate the existence of a specific relationship between a somatic mtDNA sequence and initiation and/or progression of a tumor. Based on molecular cloning-sequencing analysis, a nucleotide sequence in the D-loop region in each cell line was found to be homoplasmic. Several site-specific nucleotide variations were found in stomach and liver tumor cell lines more frequently than those in other tumor cell lines. Subsequently, 20 pairs of noncancerous and cancerous parts from stomach and liver tumor tissues were examined. In the liver tumor tissue, 80% of the noncancerous parts exhibited slightly higher heterogeneity than the corresponding cancerous parts. Several site-specific nucleotide variations found in 76 tumor cell lines were also detected in noncancerous or cancerous parts of stomach and liver tumor tissues. However, it remains unclear why the mtDNA D-loop sequence is homoplasmic in each tumor cell line. The data indicate that mtDNA exhibits heterogeneity even in the noncancerous part and a slight decrease in heterogeneity during tumorigenesis and/or tumor progression. Homoplasmy of the mtDNA population in the tumor cell line would be acquired in the cloning process of establishing a cell line. Site-specific nucleotide substitutions might not be directly involved in the tumorigenesis process.     

Reduced mitochondrial DNA copy number is correlated with tumor progression and prognosis in Chinese breast cancer patients

Somatic mutations and large-scale depletion in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been extensively detected in various human cancers. However, it still remains unclear whether the alterations in mtDNA content are related to the clinicopathological parameters and patient prognosis in breast cancer. In the present study, we analyzed the copy number of mtDNA in 59 cases of invasive breast tumors and paired nontumorous tissues using quantitative real-time PCR. Our data showed that the level of mtDNA was significantly decreased in tumor tissues as compared to the adjacent nontumorous counterparts (P = 0.001). The reduced copy number in mtDNA was associated with an older onset age (>or=50 years old, P = 0.035) as well as a higher histological grade (P = 0.012). Survival analysis measured by the Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test indicated that patients with reduced mtDNA content had significantly poorer disease-free survival (DFS, P = 0.0079) and overall survival (OS, P = 0.011) rate. In addition, tumors harboring mutations in displacement (D)-loop region, particularly at the polycytidine stretch (T/N ratio = 64.3 +/- 8.2%) or close to the replication origins of the heavy-strand (T/N ratio = 68.7 +/- 5.5%), had a significantly lower copy number of mtDNA than the ones without D-loop alterations. Together, our results suggested that reduced copy number of mtDNA may be involved in breast neoplastic transformation or progression and mtDNA content might be potentially used as a tool to predict prognosis. Somatic mutation in the D-loop region probably is one of key contributing factors leading to decreased mtDNA level in breast tumors.     

耐力运动员及普通人群线粒体DNA调控区遗传多态性分析

目的：通过ＰＣＲ技术对优秀耐力项目运动员以及普通个体的ｍｔＤＮＡ调控区遗传多态性进行分析,以期发现与运动能力相关联的基因标记。方法：以单根毛发为检材,运用ＰＣＲ技术分析中国优秀耐力性项目运动员（ｎ＝６７）,一般水平运动员（ｎ＝３３）以及普通人群（ｎ＝２０）的线粒体ＤＮＡ调控区（Ｄ－Ｌｏｏｐ）的ＲＦＬＰ。结果：优秀耐力性项目运动员线粒体特定区域ＲＦＬＰ分布与普通人群至显著性差异。结论：一些在优秀运动     

Nucleotide Substitution Rate of Mammalian Mitochondrial Genomes

We present here for the first time a comprehensive study based on the analysis of closely related organisms to provide an accurate determination of the nucleotide substitution rate in mammalian mitochondrial genomes. This study examines the evolutionary pattern of the different functional mtDNA regions as accurately as possible on the grounds of available data, revealing some important ``genomic laws.' The main conclusions can be summarized as follows. (1) High intragenomic variability in the evolutionary dynamic of mtDNA was found. The substitution rate is strongly dependent on the region considered, and slow- and fast-evolving regions can be identified. Nonsynonymous sites, the D-loop central domain, and tRNA and rRNA genes evolve much more slowly than synonymous sites and the two peripheral D-loop region domains. The synonymous rate is fairly uniform over the genome, whereas the rate of nonsynonymous sites depends on functional constraints and therefore differs considerably between genes. (2) The commonly accepted statement that mtDNA evolves more rapidly than nuclear DNA is valid only for some regions, thus it should be referred to specific mitochondrial components. In particular, nonsynonymous sites show comparable rates in mitochondrial and nuclear genes; synonymous sites and small rRNA evolve about 20 times more rapidly and tRNAs about 100 times more rapidly in mitochondria than in their nuclear counterpart. (3) A species-specific evolution is particularly evident in the D-loop region. As the divergence times of the organism pairs under consideration are known with sufficient accuracy, absolute nucleotide substitution rates are also provided. Received: 11 May 1998 / Accepted: 2 September 1998     

Mitochondrial DNA deletions are associated with non-B DNA conformations

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions are a primary cause of mitochondrial disease and are believed to contribute to the aging process and to various neurodegenerative diseases. Despite strong observational and experimental evidence, the molecular basis of the deletion process remains obscure. In this study, we test the hypothesis that the primary cause of mtDNA vulnerability to breakage resides in the formation of non-B DNA conformations, namely hairpin, cruciform and cloverleaf-like elements. Using the largest database of human mtDNA deletions built thus far (753 different cases), we show that site-specific breakage hotspots exist in the mtDNA. Furthermore, we discover that the most frequent deletion breakpoints occur within or near predicted structures, a result that is supported by data from transgenic mice with mitochondrial disease. There is also a significant association between the folding energy of an mtDNA region and the number of breakpoints that it harbours. In particular, two clusters of hairpins (near the D-loop 3'-terminus and the L-strand origin of replication) are hotspots for mtDNA breakage. Consistent with our hypothesis, the highest number of 5'- and 3'-breakpoints per base is found in the highly structured tRNA genes. Overall, the data presented in this study suggest that non-B DNA conformations are a key element of the mtDNA deletion process.     

Mitochondrial DNA replication in human T lymphocytes is regulated primarily at the H-strand termination site.

The most unique feature in the replication of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is that most of the newly synthesized heavy strands (H-strands) terminate prematurely, resulting in the formation of displacement loop (D-loop) strands. Only the H-strand which proceeds past the termination site is a true nascent H-strand leading to the overall replication on a circular mtDNA molecule. The physiological significance of the D-loop formation has long been unclear. To examine the role of premature termination in mtDNA replication, we therefore developed a method for selectively measuring both the total amount of nascent H-strands and the amount of true nascent H-strands using ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction, which, for the first time, enabled us to estimate the frequency of premature termination. The stimulation of cell proliferation with interleukin 2 and phytohemagglutinin in human peripheral T lymphocytes caused an increase in the net replication rate of mtDNA. In stimulated cells, in comparison to resting ones, the amount of true nascent H-strands increased approx. 2.6-fold while the total amount of nascent H-strands remained unchanged, indicating that premature termination decreased while the initiation of replication remained the same. Our findings thus demonstrate the first clear example that premature termination plays a primary role in the up-regulation of the net rate of mtDNA replication in human cells.     

重建邻接关系树评估原发性高血压患者的遗传性

探讨原发性高血压患者的遗传性,评估线粒体D环控制区基因变异在高血压发病中的作用。提取原发性高血压患者和正常血压人群DNA各20例,用3对交叉重叠引物扩增全部线粒体控制区D环基因,直接基因测序并重建邻接关系树,分析原发性高血压的基因变异特点。结果发现部分高血压病患者具有明显群聚倾向,与正常血压人群和其他无群聚倾向的高血压患者比较,存在高频率、高密度的D环控制区基因变化（P<0.01）,尤以np152T->C、np182C->T、np189A->G、np247G->A、np16187C->T、np16189T->C、np16264C->T、np16270C->T和np16311T->C等多态性变化显著,并因此造成np16184~16193微卫星区域多聚C长度改变。本研究提示部分高血压病患者有群聚现象,基因型np152C、np182T、np247A、np16187T、np16189C、np16264T、np16270T和np16311C可能是此聚类族高血压患者的易感遗传标记。Abstract：To explore the inheritable character in essential hypertension and to evaluate the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variations of the D-loop region in the pathogenesis of hypertension, the entire genome of the D-loop region from the hypertensive and the normotensive (20 cases, each) was amplified using 3 pairs of overlapping primers and followed by sequencing. We reconstructed the Neighbor-Joining tree and analyzed the mtDNA variations in the D-loop region. The results exhibited that one clustering branch harbored some hypertensive, who had significantly higher frequency and density of mtDNA variations (both P<0.01), especially the polymorphisms of np152T->C, np182C->T, np189A->G, np247G->A, np16187C->T, np16189T->C, np16264C->T, np16270C->T and np16311T->C. This study suggested that there was an aggregative phenomenon in some hypertensive. The genotypes of np152C, np182T, np247A, np16187T, np16189C, np16264T, np16270T and np16311C may be potential genetic markers for susceptibility to hypertension.     

Sequence Heteroplasmy of D-Loop and rRNA Coding Regions in Mitochondrial DNA from Holstein Cows of Independent Maternal Lineages

A mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragment containing the D-loop, phenylalanine tRNA, valine tRNA, and 12S and 16 rRNA genes was cloned and sequenced from 36 cows of 18 maternal lineages to identify the polymorphic sites within those regions and to detect the existence of heteroplasmic mtDNA in cows. Seventeen variable sites were observed within the D-loop and rRNA coding regions of bovine mtDNA within a 2.5-kb span. The hypervariable sites in the D-loop and rRNA coding regions were identified at nucleotide positions 169, 216, and 1594. Heteroplasmic mtDNA (variable mtDNA within a tissue) existed extensively in cows and was detected within the above regions in 11 of 36 cows sequenced. The insertion, deletion, and nucleotide transversion polymorphisms were found only in homopolymer regions. Heteroplasmy was observed frequently and seemingly is persistent in cattle. Though heteroplasmy was demonstrated, most lineages and mtDNA sites showed no heteroplasmy.