Genetic and biochemical impairment of mitochondrial complex I activity in a family with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy and hereditary spastic dystonia.

A rare form of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) that is associated with hereditary spastic dystonia has been studied in a large Dutch family. Neuropathy and ophthalmological lesions were present together in some family members, whereas only one type of abnormality was found in others. mtDNA mutations previously reported in LHON were not present. Sequence analysis of the protein-coding mitochondrial genes revealed two previously unreported mtDNA mutations. A heteroplasmic A-->G transition at nucleotide position 11696 in the ND4 gene resulted in the substitution of an isoleucine for valine at amino acid position 312. A second mutation, a homoplasmic T-->A transition at nucleotide position 14596 in the ND6 gene, resulted in the substitution of a methionine for the isoleucine at amino acid residue 26. Biochemical analysis of a muscle biopsy revealed a severe complex I deficiency, providing a link between these unique mtDNA mutations and this rare, complex phenotype including Leber optic neuropathy.     

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy: identification of the same mitochondrial ND1 mutation in six pedigrees.

Biochemical and molecular genetic evidence is presented that in six independent pedigrees the development of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is due to the same primary mutation in the mitochondrial ND1 gene. A LHON family from the Newcastle area of Great Britain was analyzed in depth to determine the mitochondrial genetic etiology of their disease. Biochemical assays of mitochondrial electron transport in organelles isolated from the platelet/white-blood-cell fraction have established that the members of this family have a substantial and specific lowering of flux through complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase). To determine the site of the primary mitochondrial gene mutation in this pedigree, all seven mitochondrial complex I genes were sequenced, in their entirety, from two family members. The primary mutation was identified as a homoplasmic transition at nucleotide 3460, which results in the substitution of threonine for alanine at position 52 of the ND1 protein. This residue occurs within a very highly conserved hydrophilic loop, is invariantly alanine or glycine in all ND1 proteins, and is adjacent to an invariant aspartic acid residue. This is only the second instance in which both a biochemical abnormality and a mitochondrial gene mutation have been identified in an LHON pedigree. The sequence analysis of the ND81 gene was extended to a further 11, unrelated LHON pedigrees that had been screened previously and found not to carry the mitochondrial ND4/R340H mutation. The ND1/A52T mutation at nucleotide 3460 was found in five of these 11 pedigrees. In contrast, this sequence change was not found in any of the 47 non-LHON controls. The possible role of secondary complex I mutations in the etiology of LHON is also addressed in these studies.     

An example of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy not involving a mutation in the mitochondrial ND4 gene.

A large Australian family afflicted with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) is analyzed at the nucleotide sequence level in this report. Biochemical assays of platelet mitochondria isolated from members of this family have demonstrated a significant decrease in the specific activity of Complex I (NADH-ubiquinol oxidoreductase) of the electron transport chain. It is shown here, however, that neither this biochemical lesion nor the optic neuropathy are due to the mutation at nucleotide position 11,778 of the mitochondrial ND4 gene first identified by Wallace et al. in several LHON pedigrees. Furthermore, extensive DNA sequencing studies reveal no candidate mutations within the mitochondrial ND3 gene, the ND4L/ND4 genes, or the contiguous tRNA genes. These studies provide the first direct evidence that not all LHON lineages--even those associated with a biochemical defect in mitochondrial respiratory chain Complex I--carry a mutation in the ND4 gene. Members of the Australian LHON family exhibit neurological abnormalities in addition to the well-characterized ophthalmological changes. It is hypothesized that LHON may be a syndrome or set of related diseases in which the clinical abnormalities are a function, at least in part, of the mitochondrial Complex I gene in which the proximate mutation occurs.     

Cosegregation of the ND4 G11696A mutation with the LHON-associated ND4 G11778A mutation in a four generation Chinese family

We report here the characterization of a four-generation Han Chinese family with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). This Chinese family exhibited a variable severity and age-at-onset of visual loss. Notably, the average age-at-onset of vision impairment changed from 26 years (generation III) to 14 years (generation IV), with the average of 18 years in this family. In addition, 30% and 50% of matrilineal relatives in generation III and IV of this family developed visual loss with a variability of severity, ranging from blindness to normal vision. Sequence analysis of the complete mitochondrial DNA in this pedigree revealed the presence of the homoplasmic ND4 G11778A mutation and 33 other variants, belonging to the Asian haplogroup D4. Of other variants, the homoplasmic G11696A mutation in the ND4 gene is of special interest as it was implicated to be associated with LHON in a large Dutch family and five Chinese pedigrees with extremely penetrance of visual loss. In fact, the G11696A mutation caused the substitution of an isoleucine for valine at amino acid position 313, located in a predicted transmembrane region of ND4. These imply that the G11696A mutation may act in synergy with the primary LHON-associated G11778A mutation in this Chinese pedigree.     

A novel G3337A mitochondrial ND1 mutation related to cardiomyopathy co-segregates with tRNALeu(CUN) A12308G and tRNAThr C15946T mutations

We describe a novel mutation in human mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 1 gene (ND1), a G to A transition at nucleotide position 3337, which is co-segregated with two known mutations in tRNALeu(CUN) A12308G and tRNAThr C15946T. These mutations were detected in two unrelated patients with different clinical phenotypes, exhibiting cardiomyopathy as the common symptom. The ND1 G3337A mutation that was detected was found almost homoplasmic in the two patients and it was absent in 150 individuals that were tested as control group. Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I activity of the patients platelets was also tested and found decreased compared to those of controls. We suggest that the co-existence of mutations in tRNA and ND1 genes may act synergistically affecting the clinical phenotype. Our study highlights the enormous phenotypic diversity that exists among pathogenic mtDNA mutations and re-emphasizes the need for a more careful clinical approach.     

Nuclear suppression of mitochondrial defects in cells without the ND6 subunit

Previously, we characterized a mouse cell line, 4A, carrying a mitochondrial DNA mutation in the subunit for respiratory complex I, NADH dehydrogenase, in the ND6 gene. This mutation abolished the complex I assembly and disrupted the respiratory function of complex I. We now report here that a galactose-resistant clone, 4AR, was isolated from the cells carrying the ND6 mutation. 4AR still contained the homoplasmic mutation, and apparently there was no ND6 protein synthesis, whereas the assembly of other complex I subunits into complex I was recovered. Furthermore, the respiratory activity and mitochondrial membrane potential were fully recovered. To investigate the genetic origin of this compensation, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 4AR was transferred to a new nuclear background. The transmitochondrial lines failed to grow in galactose medium. We further transferred mtDNA with a nonsense mutation at the ND5 gene to the 4AR nuclear background, and a suppression for mitochondrial deficiency was observed. Our results suggest that change(s) in the expression of a certain nucleus-encoded factor(s) can compensate for the absence of the ND6 or ND5 subunit.     

线粒体ND1基因T3866C突变可能是Leber’s遗传性视神经病和四肢畸形跛行相关的突变

线粒体DNA(Mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA)突变与人类许多疾病的发病机制相关。现报道1个具有典型母系遗传特征的中国人Leber’s遗传性视神经病和四肢畸形跛行的家系。该家系共5代60人,共27名母系成员,其中4人只有Leber’s遗传性视神经病症状,1人呈现四肢畸形跛行症状,4人同时具有上述两种临床症状,而其他成员无临床症状。对先证者的mtDNA全序列进行分析,发现ND1基因T3866C突变位点和43个多态位点,经系统进化树分析属于东亚单体型D4a3。MtDNAND13866位点T-C碱基的改变使ND1亚基第187位进化高度保守的异亮氨酸转变为苏氨酸,从而改变该蛋白的结构,进而影响其功能。在135名正常对照中未发现该突变。因此,线粒体ND1T3866C可能是与Leber’s遗传性视神经病和四肢畸形跛行相关的线粒体基因突变。     

Pathogenetic mechanisms in hereditary dysfunctions of complex I of the respiratory chain in neurological diseases

This paper covers genetic and biochemical aspects of mitochondrial bioenergetics dysfunction in hereditary neurological disorders associated with complex I defects. Three types of hereditary complex I dysfunction are dealt with: (i) homozygous mutations in the nuclear genes NDUFS1 and NDUFS4 of complex I, associated with mitochondrial encephalopathy; (ii) a recessive hereditary epileptic neurological disorder associated with enhanced proteolytic degradation of complex I; (iii) homoplasmic mutations in the ND5 and ND6 mitochondrial genes of the complex, cohexistent with mutation in the nuclear PINK1 gene in familial Parkinsonism. The genetic and biochemical data examined highlight different mechanisms by which mitochondrial bioenergetics is altered in these hereditary defects of complex I. This knowledge, besides clarifying molecular aspects of the pathogenesis of hereditary diseases, can also provide hints for understanding the involvement of complex I in sporadic neurological disorders and aging, as well as for developing therapeutical strategies.     

Mitochondrial DNA mutation in an Italian family with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy

Summary Mitochondrial (mt) DNA from a Southern Italian family with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy was analyzed for the presence of the reported mutation at position 11778 of the ND4 subunit gene. The point mutation was found in mt DNA extracted from peripheral blood in all members of the family with the exclusion of the father, and was present in a homoplasmic fashion, despite the phenotypic heterogeneity of disease presentation among family members.     

A novel mtDNA C11777A mutation in Leigh syndrome

A novel mitochondrial DNA point mutation, a C-to-A mutation at nucleotide position (np) 11,777, was identified in two unrelated patients out of 100 with Leigh syndrome. This mutation converted a highly evolutionary conserved arginine to a serine at codon 340 in ND4 gene. This codon was also converted by a G-to-A mutation at np 11,778, the most common mutation associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), but the amino acid replacement was different (R340S vs. R340H). Cybrid study revealed that the percentage of heteroplasmy was correlated with complex I function and that the novel mutation caused a much more deleterious effect than the np 11,778 LHON mutation in complex I activity.     

Reconstruction of a human mitochondrial complex I mutation in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas

Defects in complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.5.3)) are the most frequent cause of human respiratory disorders. The pathogenicity of a given human mitochondrial mutation can be difficult to demonstrate because the mitochondrial genome harbors large numbers of polymorphic base changes that have no pathogenic significance. In addition, mitochondrial mutations are usually found in the heteroplasmic state, which may hide the biochemical effect of the mutation. We propose that the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas could be used to study such mutations because (i) respiratory complex-deficient mutants are viable and mitochondrial mutations are found in the homoplasmic state, (ii) transformation of the mitochondrial genome is feasible, and (iii) Chlamydomonas complex I is similar to that of humans. To illustrate this proposal, we introduced a Leu157Pro substitution into the Chlamydomonas ND4 subunit of complex I in two recipient strains by biolistic transformation, demonstrating that site-directed mutagenesis of the Chlamydomonas mitochondrial genome is possible. This substitution did not lead to any respiratory enzyme defects when present in the heteroplasmic state in a patient with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia. When present in the homoplasmic state in the alga, the mutation does not prevent assembly of whole complex I (950 kDa) and the NADH dehydrogenase activity of the peripheral arm of the complex is mildly affected. However, the NADH:duroquinone oxidoreductase activity is strongly reduced, suggesting that the substitution could affect binding of ubiquinone to the membrane domain. The in vitro defects correlate with a decrease in dark respiration and growth rate in vivo.     

Distribution of introns in frameshift-suppressor proline-tRNA genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Mutations in the suf9, suf10, and suf11 genes of yeast suppress + 1 nucleotide (nt) insertions in proline codons. Nucleotide sequence analysis indicates that the suf9 and suf11 genes are members of the proline tRNA(UGG) gene family, which also includes three other previously identified genes, suf7, suf8, and trn1. All five members of this gene family contain introns. The suf9 and suf11 introns are 31 and 30 nt in length, respectively, and are similar but not identical in sequence to other introns within the family. The suf10 gene is identical in sequence to suf2, which was shown previously to encode proline tRNA(IGG). Both members of this gene family lack introns. Alleles of suf9, suf10, and suf11 that confer frameshift suppression were also analyzed. The SUF9-1 allele results in a G----U substitution at nt position 39 in the anticodon stem. The recessive suf11-1 allele is a double mutant containing the same nt position 39 alteration as in SUF9-1 plus a second U----A substitution at nt position 38 in the anticodon loop. The SUF10-1 suppressor mutation corresponds to a +1G insertion in the anticodon loop. Since the nt substitutions in suf11-1 alter the sequence of the 3' exon/intron boundary, the double mutant pre-tRNA was tested for its ability to be cleaved in vitro by tRNA-splicing endonuclease. It was found that suf11-1 pre-tRNA is cleaved with reduced efficiency at the 3' splice junction.     

Free radicals-mediated damage in transmitochondrial cells harboring the T14487C mutation in the ND6 gene of mtDNA

We have studied the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in transmitochondrial cells, harboring homoplasmic levels of the T14487C mtDNA mutation in the ND6 gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Previous work has shown that this mutation causes complex I deficiency. Here, we show that this mutation causes an overproduction of ROS leading to an increase in the oxidation of lipids and mtDNA without modification of antioxidant enzyme activities. We suggest that mutations in mtDNA affecting complex I activity may result in oxidative cellular damage, and reinforce the possible role of ROS-mediated mechanisms participating in some mtDNA-related disorders.     

A variant of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy characterized by recovery of vision and by an unusual mitochondrial genetic etiology.

The Tas2 and Vic2 Australian families are affected with a variant of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). The risk of developing the optic neuropathy shows strict maternal inheritance, and the ophthalmological changes in affected family members are characteristic of LHON. However, in contrast to the common form of the disease, members of these two families show a high frequency of vision recovery. To ascertain the mitochondrial genetic etiology of the LHON in these families, both (a) the the nucleotide sequences of the seven mitochondrial genes encoding subunits of respiratory-chain complex I and (b) the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene were determined for representatives of both families. Neither family carries any of the previously identified primary mitochondrial LHON mutations: ND4/11778, ND1/3460, or ND1/4160. Instead, both LHON families carry multiple nucleotide changes in the mitochondrial complex I genes, which produce conservative amino acid changes. From the available sequence data, it is inferred that the Vic2 and Tas2 LHON families are phylogenetically related to each other and to a cluster of LHON families in which mutations in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene have been hypothesized to play a primary etiological role. However, sequencing analysis establishes that the Vic2 and Tas2 LHON families do not carry these cytochrome b mutations. There are two hypotheses to account for the unusual mitochondrial genetic etiology of the LHON in the Tas2 and Vic2 LHON families. One possibility is that there is a primary LHON mutation within the mitochondrial genome but that it is at a site that was not included in the sequencing analyses. Alternatively, the disease in these families may result from the cumulative effects of multiple secondary LHON mutations that have less severe phenotypic consequences.     

Two novel SRY missense mutations reducing DNA binding identified in XY females and their mosaic fathers.

Two novel mutations in the sex-determining gene SRY were identified by screening DNA from 30 sex-reversed XY females by using the SSCP assay. Both point mutations lead to an amino acid substitution in the DNA-binding high-mobility-group domain of the SRY protein. The first mutation, changing a serine at position 91 to glycine, was found in a sporadic case. The second mutation, leading to replacement of a highly conserved proline at position 125 with leucine, is shared by three members of the same family, two sisters and a half sister having the same father. The mutant SRY proteins showed reduced DNA-binding ability in a gel-shift assay. Analysis of lymphocyte DNA from the respective fathers revealed that they carry both the wild-type and the mutant version of the SRY gene. The fact that both fathers transmitted the mutant SRY copy to their offspring implies that they are mosaic for the SRY gene in testis as well as in blood, as a result of a mutation during early embryonic development.     

The novel G10680A mutation is associated with complete penetrance of the LHON/T14484C family

We report the clinical and genetic characterization of a Chinese Leber′s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) family with complete penetrance and high percentage of recovery. Sequence analysis of the complete mitochondrial DNA revealed the presence of heteroplasmic ND6/T14484C mutation and 27 other variants, belonging to the East-Asian haplogroup B4b′d. Of those variants, a novel homoplasmic G10680A mutation substituted a threonine for a highly conserved alanine at ND4L amino acid 71, which was not found in unaffected family members and 100 normal controls. It indicated that G10680A may play a synergistic role with the primary mutation T14484C, leading to the complete penetrance of LHON in the presenting family. In addition, the other modifier factors including nuclear background, mitochondrial haplotypes and other environmental factors should account for the phenotypic variability of visual impairment in this family.     

The spectrum of mitochondrial DNA mutations in families with Leber hereditary optic neuroretinopathy

The mitochondrial complex I genes were sequenced in seven Leber hereditary optic neuroretinopathy (LHON) families without the ND4/11778 and ND1/3460 mutations. Four replacement mutations restricted only to LHON families were found, one in the ND1 gene at nt 4025, and three in the ND5 gene at nt 12811, 13637, and 13967. The mutations did not change evolutionarily conserved amino acids suggesting that they are not primary LHON mutations in these families. They may be considered as secondary LHON mutations serving as exacerbating factors in an appropriate genetic background. A complex III mutation, cyt b/15257, has been suggested to be one of the primary mutations causing LHON. Its presence was determined for 23 Finnish LHON families, and it was detected in two families harboring the ND4/11778 mutation. Similarly, complex IV mutation COI/7444 was screened in Finnish LHON families, and it was found in one family carrying the ND1/3460 mutation.     

A new disease-related mutation for mitochondrial encephalopathy lactic acidosis and strokelike episodes (MELAS) syndrome affects the ND4 subunit of the respiratory complex I.

The molecular lesions in two patients exhibiting classical clinical manifestations of MELAS (mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and strokelike episodes) syndrome have been investigated. A recently reported disease-related A----G base substitution at nt 3243 of the mtDNA, in the DHU loop of tRNA(Leu), was detected by restriction-enzyme analysis of the relevant PCR-amplified segment of the mtDNA of one patient but was not observed, by either restriction-enzyme analysis or nucleotide sequencing, in the other. To define the molecular lesion in the patient who does not have the A----G base substitution at nt 3243, the total mitochondrial genome of the patient has been sequenced. An A----G base substitution at nt 11084, leading to a Thr-to-Ala amino acid replacement in the ND4 subunit of the respiratory complex I, is suggested to be a disease-related mutation.     

MtDNA mutations in maternally inherited diabetes: presence of the 3397 ND1 mutation previously associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease

Mutations in the mitochondrial tRNA(leu) (UUR) gene have been associated with diabetes mellitus and deafness. We screened for the presence of mtDNA mutations in the tRNA(leu) (UUR) gene and adjacent ND1 sequences in 12 diabetes mellitus pedigrees with a possible maternal inheritance of the disease. One patient carried a G to A substitution at nt 3243 (tRNA(leu) (UUR) gene) in heteroplasmic state. In a second pedigree a patient had an A to G substitution at nt 3397 in the ND1 gene. All maternal relatives of the proband had the 3397 substitution in homoplasmic state. This substitution was not present in 246 nonsymptomatic Caucasian controls. The 3397 substitution changes a highly conserved methionine to a valine at aa 31 and has previously been found in Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) disease patients. Substitutions in the mitochondrial ND1 gene at aa 30 and 31 have associated with a number of different diseases (e.g. AD/PD, MELAS, cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus, LHON, Wolfram-syndrome and maternal inherited diabetes) suggesting that changes at these two codons may be associated with very diverse pathogenic processes. In a further attempt to search for mtDNA mutations outside the tRNAleu gene associated with diabetes, the whole mtDNA genome sequence was determined for two patients with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness. Except for substitutions previously reported as polymorphisms, none of the two patients showed any non-synonymous substitutions either in homoplasmic or heteroplasmic state. These results imply that the maternal inherited diabetes and deafness in these patients must result from alterations of nuclear genes and/or environmental factors.