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mtDNA polymorphisms in Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

We screened 92 Japanese patients with sporadic AD (clinically diagnosed: 72 cases; autopsy-confirmed: 20 cases) and 59 age-matched controls for mitochondrial polymorphisms previously reported to be associated with increased risk in Caucasian AD. The polymorphisms in tRNA(Gln) (nt. 4336), 16S rRNA (nt. 3196), and ND1 (nt. 3397) were not found in either in Japanese AD or age-matched controls. The frequencies of these polymorphisms in Japanese seems to be very rare if not absent, indicating that these three mutations are not likely to be genetic risk factors of Japanese AD. In the analysis of polymorphisms of 12S rRNA, however, we identified two novel mutations, an insertion of three cytosines and an A to G transition at nt. 856, which have not been described before. The insertion of three cytosines was observed in one of the 90 AD cases, but not in 59 normal controls. The A to G transition at nt. 856 was found in 2 of the 90 AD cases, but not in 59 normal controls. These results raise the possibility that the mutations in the 12S rRNA are genetic risk factors for AD in Japanese population.

Adult↗

Severe mitochondrial cytopathy with complete A-V block, PEO, and mtDNA deletions.

We describe a 17-year-old male with neurologic and cardiovascular disorders characterized by complete atrioventricular block and a mitochondrial cytopathy with clinical, structural, biochemical, and molecular features shared by chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia and Kearns-Sayre syndrome. The patient's manifestations included progressive external ophthalmoplegia, bilateral ptosis, muscle weakness, delayed development, and progressive hearing loss with multiple mitochondrial DNA deletions, including an abundant 11-kb novel deletion and reduced specific activities of respiratory complexes I, III, and IV present in skeletal muscle. Ultrastructural analysis of biopsied muscle revealed a heterogenous mixture of normal and abnormal mitochondria with unusual cristae. This unique mitochondrial DNA deletion, which eliminates the origin of mitochondrial DNA replication for the light strand, may be responsible for generating an intermediate clinical phenotype.

Adolescent↗

mtDNA nt3243 mutation, external ophthalmoplegia, and hypogonadism in an adolescent girl.

A 14-year-old girl presented with a 3-month history of easy fatigue and exercise intolerance, especially when climbing stairs. She had a mild ptosis and mild limitation of upward gaze. Her puberty was delayed, and she manifested hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Serum lactic and pyruvic acids were elevated. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging was normal. Muscle biopsy documented typical ragged-red fibers. A point mutation at nucleotide 3243 in the tRNALeu(UUR) (typical mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) mutation) was detected in mitochondrial DNA from both blood and muscle tissues, indicating that our patient was suffering from a mitochondrial myopathy. Hypogonadism may be a manifestation of the MELAS nucleotide 3243 mutation.

Adolescent↗

Clinical and molecular studies in three Portuguese mtDNA T8993G families.

The T8993G mutation in the mitochondrial DNA adenosine triphosphatase 6 gene represents an important cause of maternally inherited Leigh's syndrome. Reported are the clinical findings and mutational loads in three Portuguese T8993G pedigrees. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses demonstrated the T8993G mutation in a high percentage of tissues from all patients (97% +/- 2.3%), but it was less abundant in the blood from 14 maternal relatives. The disease progressed severely in the probands but did not have the fatal course reported by others. To test whether this prolonged course was related to the presence of a specific, disease-associated haplogroup the origin of the mutational event in Portugal was traced. Haplotype investigation revealed an independent occurrence of the mutation in the three probands. These analyses represent the first molecular characterization of Portuguese patients with Leigh's syndrome.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The nuoM arg368his mutation in NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase from Rhodobacter capsulatus: a model for the human nd4-11778 mtDNA mutation associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.

Mutation at position 11778 in the nd4 gene of the human mitochondrial complex I is associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Type I NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase of Rhodobacter capsulatus displays similar properties to complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The NUOM subunit of the bacterial enzyme is homologous to the ND4 subunit. Disruption of the nuoM gene led to a bacterial mutant exhibiting a defect in complex I activity and assembly. A nuoM-1103 point mutant reproducing the nd4-11778 mutation has been introduced in the R. capsulatus genome. This mutant showed a reduced ability to grow in a medium containing malate instead of lactate which indicated a clear impairment in oxidative phosphorylation capacity. NADH supported respiration of porous bacterial cells was significantly decreased in the nuoM-1103 mutant while no significant reduction could be observed in isolated bacterial membranes. As it has been observed in the case of the nd4-11778 mitochondrial mutation, proton-pump activity of the bacterial enzyme was not affected by the nuoM-1103 mutation. All these data which reproduce most of the biochemical features observed in patient mitochondria harboring the nd4-11778 mutation show that the R. capsulatus complex I might be used as a useful model to investigate mutations of the mitochondrial DNA which are associated with complex I deficiencies in human pathologies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Progress in genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis of maternally inherited mtDNA diseases.

Mitochondrial DNA is almost entirely maternally inherited. Thousands of copies of mitochondrial DNA are present in every nucleated cell and in most normal individuals these are virtually identical (homoplasmy). Mitochondrial DNA diseases may be caused by mutations in either mitochondrial (Nature 1988;331:717-719) or nuclear genes (Nature 1989;339(6222):309-311; Br J Hosp Med 1996;55:712-716) and hence give rise to maternal or autosomal patterns of inheritance. Antenatal diagnosis of mitochondrial diseases based on chorionic villus sampling is available for Mendelian disorders and the syndromes caused by mutations at bp 8993 (associated with both Leigh's syndrome or neurogenic weakness ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa). However, prenatal diagnosis of many other maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA diseases is less reliable because it is not possible to predict the way in which heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA mutations segregate within tissues with confidence. This review focuses on the substantial progress that has been made recently, and on the applicability of prenatal diagnosis to genetic counselling in this field.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗

A new mtDNA mutation in the tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene associated with ocular myopathy.

We studied a patient with ptosis, ophthalmoparesis, and exercise intolerance who showed in her muscle biopsy ragged-red fibers and combined defects of the complexes I and IV of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Molecular analysis revealed a T3273C transition in the mitochondrial DNA tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene. The mutation was heteroplasmic and very abundant in muscle from the proposita, less abundant in her other tissues studied, and still less abundant in blood from her maternal relatives. Single muscle fiber analysis showed significantly higher levels of mutant genomes in ragged-red fibers than in normal fibers. The T3273C mutation affects a strictly conserved base pair in the anticodon stem and was not found in controls, thus satisfying the accepted criteria for pathogenicity.

Base Sequence↗

The length of cytochrome c oxidase-negative segments in muscle fibres in patients with mtDNA myopathy.

Heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA mutations often cause a skeletal myopathy associated with a mosaic distribution of cytochrome c oxidase-deficient muscle fibres. The function of an individual muscle fibre is dependent upon the metabolic activity throughout its length, but little is known about the length of cytochrome c oxidase-deficient segments in human skeletal muscle in patients with mitochondrial disease. We studied cytochrome c oxidase activity by serial section analysis of quadriceps muscle from two patients. We observed a striking variation in the length of the cytochrome c oxidase-negative segments. The shortest segments were 10 microm long, and the longest segment was the entire length of the larger biopsy (> or =1.2 mm). The lengths of the cytochrome c oxidase-negative segments were generally shorter in the less severely affected biopsy, and we frequently observed non-contiguous segments of cytochrome c oxidase deficiency within the same muscle fibre. The findings have important implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of mitochondrial DNA myopathy.

Adult↗

A late-onset mitochondrial myopathy is associated with a novel mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutation in the tRNA(Trp) gene.

We detected a novel pathogenic mutation, a G-->A transition at position 5521 of mitochondrial tRNA(Trp) gene, in association with familial late-onset mitochondrial myopathy. The mutation was detected in muscle but not in leukocytes from the family's proband. Morphological and biochemical studies documented a severe defect of muscle cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity. RFLP analysis of single muscle fibers demonstrated segregation of higher percentages of mutated genomes in COX-negative ragged red fibres compared with normal fibers. A predominant impairment in synthesis of subunits I and III of complex IV due to their highest relative content of tryptophane might explain the greater susceptibility of complex IV to the pathogenic effect of this mutation. A progressive accumulation of mutated genomes in muscle can account for the late onset of symptoms observed in affected members.

Aged↗

The Atlas mountains as a biogeographical divide in North-West Africa: evidence from mtDNA evolution in the Agamid lizard Agama impalearis.

Since the early Miocene there have been several physical events within NW Africa that are likely to have had a major impact on its faunal diversity. Phylogeographical studies will shed new light on the biogeography of the region. We analysed mitochondrial DNA diversity in the agamid lizard Agama impalearis (also called A. bibronii) based on sequences from mitochondrial genes with very different evolutionary rates (16S rRNA and ND2). Well-supported topologies of rooted maximum parsimony trees (with a Laudakia outgroup) and unrooted haplotype networks indicated two major clades with similar branch lengths. These clades have non-overlapping distributions representing respective areas to the North and West and South and East of the Atlas mountain chain and each could be given full species recognition. Nested clade analyses indicate that historical and possible present-day allopatry account for the primary phylogeographic pattern. Further evidence is provided by the estimated timing of cladogenesis, based on calibration of evolutionary rates in the ND2 gene of another continental Agamid. Sequence divergence between clades corresponds to 8.5-9.4mya, coinciding with the main period of orogenic uplift of the Atlas. Additional evidence of cladogenesis by allopatric fragmentation is also detected within the North/West Atlas clade, although contiguous range expansion is the most predominant explanation of more recent phylogeographic effects in this species. Miocene vicariance mediated by the Atlas may provide a general explanation of intra- and interspecific biogeographical patterns in NW African species.

Africa, Northern↗

Molecular phylogeny of 48 species of damselfishes (Perciformes: Pomacentridae) using 12S mtDNA sequences.

Phylogenetic relastionships within the family pomacentridae teleostei: Perciformes) were inferred by analyzing a portion of the 12S mitochondrial ribosomal DNA gene. Thirty-four pomacentrid species were sequenced for this study and the resulting data were combined with previously published pomacentrid sequence data to form a combined matrix of 53 pomacentrids representing 48 different species in 18 genera. Four outgroup species were also drawn from published data; these taxa were taken from the other three putative families of the suborder Labroidei, as well as a single representative of the family Moronidae. The data set contained 1053 data columns after alignment according to ribosomal secondary structure and the removal of all ambiguously aligned positions. The resulting strict consensus tree topology generally agreed with the previous molecular hypothesis, and recovers a monophyletic Pomacentridae and subfamily Amphiprioninae. The two other subfamilies included, Chrominae and Pomacentrinae, were found to be polyphyletic. A monophyletic group consisting of the Amphiprioninae, Pomacentrus, Acanthochromis, Amblyglyphidodon, Neoglyphidodon, Chrysiptera, Neopomacentrus, and Teixeirichthys was found. This group was recovered as the sister group to a clade consisting of a paraphyletic Chromis and a monophyletic Dascyllus. A sister-group relationship between the genus Pomacentrus and the subfamily Amphiprioninae was observed.

Animals↗

Taxonomy of Iberian Hoplia (Col., Scarabaeoidea, Hopliinae) based on mtDNA analysis.

The morphology of some Hoplia species (Scarabaeoidea: Hopliinae) is so variable that parapatric populations have often been considered different species or subspecies. In this study we analyze the nucleotide sequences of a fragment of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of six species and two subspecies of Palaearctic Hoplia to reexamine the species limits. Based on the analysis of sequences from COI and morphological and ecological observations, we consider Hoplia freyi Baraud to be a junior synonym of Hoplia chlorophana Erichson and H. philanthus ramburi Heyden to be a junior synonym of H. philanthus philanthus (Fuessly). However, complete resolution of relationships among H. philanthus subspecies requires the addition of sequences from genes evolving faster than COI. Phylogenetic relationships among the species studied are discussed.

Animals↗

Phylogeography of the Madeiran endemic lizard Lacerta dugesii inferred from mtDNA sequences.

Partial sequences from two mitochondrial DNA genes, cytochrome b and 12S rRNA, were used to assess the phylogenetic relationships of populations of Lacerta dugesii from the volcanic Atlantic islands of Madeira, the Desertas, Porto Santo, and the Selvagens. All four-island groups are genetically distinguishable and populations within each contain similar degrees of genetic diversity. Molecular clock estimates suggest that the islands were colonized much later after their emergence compared to other Atlantic islands, possibly due to their greater geographical isolation. Mismatch analysis of all populations is consistent with exponential growth, as expected after colonization of empty niches. The Selvagens contain genetic substructuring between the islets.

Animals↗

Xantusiid "night" lizards: a puzzling phylogenetic problem revisited using likelihood-based Bayesian methods on mtDNA sequences.

Contentious issues in Night Lizard (Xantusiidae) evolution are revisited using Maximum Likelihood-based Bayesian methods and compared with results from Neighbor-Joining and Maximum Parsimony analyses. Fragments of three mitochondrial genes, the 12S and 16S ribosomal genes, and the cytochrome b gene, are sampled across an ingroup composed of seven xantusiid species and a 12-species outgroup chosen to bracket ancestral states for six additional clades of scleroglossan lizards. Our phylogenetic analyses afford robust support for the following conclusions: Xantusiidae is part of Scincomorpha, rather than being allied with Gekkota; Lepidophyma is sister to Xantusia, rather than to Cricosaura; Xantusia riversiana is imbedded within, rather than being sister to, other Xantusia species; and rock-morph Xantusia are not closely related to one another. Convergence related to retarded rates of growth and development, or to physical constraints imposed by living in rock crevices, may be responsible for much of the character discordance underlying conflicts in xantusiid phylogeny. Fossil-calibrated Maximum Likelihood-based divergence time estimates suggest that although the xantusiid stem may have originated in the Mesozoic, the crown clade is exclusively Tertiary in age. Thus, the clade including extant Cricosaura does not appear to have been extant during the K-T boundary bolide impact, as has been suggested. Moreover, our divergence-time estimates indicate that the xantusiid island endemics, Cricosaura typica on Cuba and Xantusia riversiana on the California Channel Islands, arrived via dispersal rather than vicariance, as previously proposed.

Animals↗

Extensive mtDNA variation within the yellow-pine chipmunk, Tamias amoenus (Rodentia: Sciuridae), and phylogeographic inferences for northwest North America.

The yellow-pine chipmunk, Tamias amoenus, is common in xerophytic forests throughout much of northwest North America. We analyzed cytochrome b sequence variation from 155 individuals representing 57 localities across the distribution of T. amoenus including 10 additional species of Tamias. Maximum likelihood and parsimony tree estimation methods were used in conjunction with nested clade analysis to infer both deep and population-level processes. Our results indicate that two currently recognized subspecies of T. amoenus (T. a. canicaudus and T. a. cratericus) are not nested within other samples of T. amoenus. Maximum uncorrected levels of intraspecific sequence divergence within remaining samples of T. amoenus are >7%. Substantial geographic variation is characterized by 12 well-supported clades that correspond to distinct mountain ranges, but do not necessarily follow existing subspecific taxonomy. Significant association between geography and genealogy was detected within many of these clades and can be attributed to different population-level processes including past fragmentation, recent range expansion, and isolation by distance.

Animals↗

Endemic diversification of the monophyletic cottoid fish species flock in Lake Baikal explored with mtDNA sequencing.

In the ancient Lake Baikal in East Siberia, cottoid fishes have diversified into an endemic flock of 33 species. From an ancestral shallow-water, benthic life-style, Baikalian cottoids have shifted to deep-water life in environments even below 1500 m, and also colonized the pelagic habitat. We examined phylogenetic relationships among 22 Baikalian and 10 extra-Baikalian cottoid taxa using a total of 2822 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequence, from complete sequences of ATPase 8 and 6 and cytochrome b genes and the control region. Unlike in earlier studies, we found strong support for a monophyly of the whole endemic Baikalian cottoid diversity. The Baikalian clade, currently assigned to three families and 12 genera, appears to be nested within the Holarctic freshwater genus Cottus. In the molecular phylogeny, all but one of the current Baikalian genera formed well-supported monophyletic groups. However, the topology was inconsistent with the present morphology-based familial subdivision; particularly in positioning the genus Batrachocottus of Cottidae within Abyssocottidae. The branching order of the Baikalian genera could not be resolved completely, however; short basal branches indicate rapid diversification early in the history of the species flock. Using synonymous divergence rates from other fish species for calibration, the diversification of the Baikalian cottoids seems to have started in the Pliocene or early Pleistocene.

Animals↗

Taxonomic status and origin of the shrews (Soricidae) from the Canary islands inferred from a mtDNA comparison with the European Crocidura species.

European island shrews are either relicts of the endemic Pleistocene fauna, e.g.,. Crocidura zimmermanni, or were introduced from continental source populations. In order to clarify the taxonomic status and the origin of the two shrew species from the Canary islands, a 981bp fragment of cytochrome b gene was investigated in all European Crocidura species and compared with the Canary shrew (Crocidura canariensis) and the Osorio shrew (Crocidura osorio). The first shares its karyotype with the Sicilian shrew Crocidura sicula (2N=36), the second with the Greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula (2N=42), suggesting possible sister species relationships. Results confirm the monophyly of taxa sharing the same karyotype. Genetic distances between C. sicula and C. canariensis suggest a separation since 5 Myr. The first was probably isolated from the North African ancestor after the Messinian desiccation; the second arrived on the Canary islands by natural jump dispersal. Within the 2N=42 cluster, a first split separated an Eastern line (Tunisia) from a western line (Morocco/Europe) of C. russula. C. osorio clusters together with C. russula from Spain, indicating conspecificy. This suggests a recent introduction from Spain by human.

Animals↗