Mitochondrial Disorders: Nuclear Gene Mutations

Daniele Ghezzi, The Foundation “Carlo Besta” Institute of Neurology, Milan, Italy
Massimo Zeviani, The Foundation “Carlo Besta” Institute of Neurology, Milan, Italy

Published online: April 2011

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005540.pub2

In addition to mutations of mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA), many mitochondrial syndromes are due to abnormalities in nuclear genes related to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Nuclear genes encode hundreds of proteins directly involved in mitochondrial OXPHOS or linked to other metabolic pathways that are related to OXPHOS, such as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and fatty acids -oxidation, cell signalling and apoptosis. Although the identification of mutations in mtDNA has become relatively easy because its small size and the nearly complete elucidation of its sequence polymorphisms, the analysis of nuclear disease genes is still a formidable challenge. However, with the recent improvement in technology throughput and bio-computational power, this scenario is rapidly changing. The discovery of several OXPHOS-related human genes and the identification of mutations responsible for different clinical syndromes indicate that the majority, but not all, of the inherited mitochondrial disorders are due to nuclear genes encoding proteins targeted to mitochondria.

Key Concepts:

  • Mitochondria are the principal intracellular source of energy through the production of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS).
  • Mitochondria contain their own genome, a small, circular double-stranded DNA (mtDNA).
  • mtDNA contains 13 genes encoding subunits of the respiratory chain complexes and 24 genes encoding 2 ribosomal and 22 transfer RNAs, which are necessary to carry out intramitochondrial translation.
  • Mitochondria depend on the nucleus for the supply of all of the other OXPHOS proteins as well as the factors necessary for replication, repair, transcription, translation, maintenance of mtDNA and for the biogenesis, shaping, fusion and fission of the organelles.
  • Mitochondrial-inherited diseases may present with a vast range of symptoms, severity, age of onset and outcome.
  • Because of its dual genetic control, OXPHOS disorders can be due to mutations in mtDNA or nuclear DNA genes.
  • Recent epidemiological studies show that mitochondrial disorders have a minimal prevalence of 1:5 000.

Keywords: mitochondria; nuclear DNA; mutation; oxidative phosphorylation; respiratory chain

Figure 1. Brain magnetic resonance images of a patient affected by Leigh Syndrome. (a) Transverse T2-weighted image showing symmetric hyperintense necrotic lesions in the basal ganglia (arrows). (b) Coronal T2-weighted image showing cortical atrophy. (c) A 1H-spectroscopy of the voxels encircled in the brain sections displayed in the upper panels, shows a marked accumulation of lactate (arrow).
Figure 2. Frequency of biochemical deficiencies in mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) complexes. The data were obtained from a total of 239 skeletal muscle biopsies, 75 of which showed reduced activities, analysed in the Unit of Molecular Neurogenetics, Institute of Neurology ‘C. Besta’, Milan, Italy (E. Lamantea, personal communication).
Figure 3. Southern-blot analysis of linearised mtDNA samples with multiple mtDNA deletions (MD), single mtDNA deletion (SD) and mtDNA depleted species (Dep), compared to control samples (Ct).
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Related Sub-Topics:

Cell Compartments and Cellular Organelles | Mutational Mechanisms of Genetic Disease | Mitochondrial Diseases
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Article Title: Mitochondrial Disorders: Nuclear Gene Mutations
 
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Ghezzi, Daniele, and Zeviani, Massimo(Apr 2011) Mitochondrial Disorders: Nuclear Gene Mutations. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0005540.pub2]