Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0162671 (MELAS)
587 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Intergenomic variation in the human mitochondrial genome was examined in 27 mtDNA sequences using a pairwise analysis technique. Analysis of 16 of these mtDNA sequences from patients with mitochondrial cytopathies indicated a wide range between different mitochondrial genes in the degree of nucleotide variation from the standard Cambridge sequence. Mean complex I polymorphic frequencies in cytopathic (CPEO, MERRF, MELAS and LHON collectively) patients and in LHON patients differed significantly from controls (P < or = 0.05, t). Total mean sequence divergence (mean number of diverging nucleotides between two sequences per 100 bp) over the entire mtDNA coding region was 0.21% for cytopathies (n = 16) as opposed to 0.18% for a control group (n = 4). Within the cytopathy group, the greatest pairwise divergence was observed in ND3 and ND6 subunits of complex I (0.46 and 0.70% respectively) and the magnitude of specific gene divergences differed considerably from those observed for the corresponding genes in the control population. The extent to which the increased variation in ND3 and ND6 is a general phenomenon applicable to all subjects rather than a finding specific to cytopathies cannot be stated with certainty given the small control group. Regardless as to which of these suggestions is correct, the possibility exists that increased nucleotide variation in certain mitochondrial ND subunits may contribute to respiratory inefficiency through a cumulative effect of a series of polymorphisms of minor individual mutagenic potential.
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PMID:Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in disease: a possible contributor to respiratory dysfunction. 787 14

A new mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation of tRNA(Leu)(UUR) at nucleotide position 3271 (MELAS3271) was determined to be involved in the pathogenic process of mitochondrial diseases MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) using intercellular transfer of patient-derived mtDNA to mtDNA-less HeLa cells (rho 0 HeLa cells). Cybrid clones containing imported mtDNA exclusively from a MELAS patient with MELAS3271 mtDNA were isolated, and the influence of MELAS3271 mtDNA on mitochondrial translation activity and mitochondrial respiratory complex I enzyme activity were examined. Accumulation of more than 87% MELAS3271 mutant mtDNA in the cybrid clones induced both low complex I activity and abnormal mtDNA-encoded polypeptide synthesis including at least complex I subunit ND6. suggesting involvement of the new MELAS-associated mutation in the pathogenesis.
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PMID:Accumulation of mtDNA with a mutation at position 3271 in tRNA(Leu)(UUR) gene introduced from a MELAS patient to HeLa cells lacking mtDNA results in progressive inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory function. 828 Jan 19

We report a novel point mutation in the gene for the mitochondrially encoded ND6 subunit of the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I of the respiratory chain) in a patient with MELAS syndrome. The mutation causes a change from alanine to valine in the most conserved region of the ND6 subunit. The patient was heteroplasmic for the mutation in both muscle and blood, but the mutation was not detected in the patient's mother. A marked reduction of complex I activity was found in the patient's muscular tissue. This is the first report of a mutation in the ND6 subunit causing MELAS. Our data confirm the genetic heterogeneity in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome, and confirms that MELAS can be caused by mutation in polypeptide-coding mtDNA genes.
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PMID:An mtDNA mutation, 14453G-->A, in the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 associated with severe MELAS syndrome. 1178 95

Isolated Complex I (CI) deficiency, the most frequent cause of mitochondrial disease, is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous condition. Complex I is a giant multiheteromeric enzyme composed of seven ND subunits encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, and at least 38 subunits encoded by nuclear genes. To establish the contribution to human mitochondrial encephalopathy of ND versus nuclear gene mutations, we have been undertaking a systematic analysis of CI genes in a cohort of 46 adult and paediatric patients with biochemically defined CI defect. Sequence analysis of the entire mtDNA let us identify six patients with mutations in ND genes. The clinical presentations varied, from infantile Leigh syndrome, to childhood MELAS, to adult-onset encephalopathic syndromes of variable severity. Three of the mutations were not previously reported (3481G > A, 14600G > A and 13063G > A, in ND1, ND6 and ND5 genes, respectively) and were further investigated in mutant transmitochondrial cybrids. Tight correlation between mutation load and decrease in CI activity was observed in each of the three mutant cybrid lines, supporting the pathogenic role of the novel mutations. Structural studies on mutant cybrids showed impaired assembly or reduced stability of the holoenzyme complex. In our experience ND gene mutations are relatively common in CI-defective mitochondrial encephalopathy of both children and adults.
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PMID:Novel mutations of ND genes in complex I deficiency associated with mitochondrial encephalopathy. 1753 32

Mitochondrial cytopathies are characterized by a large variability of clinical phenotypes and severity. The 14487T>C mutation in mtDNA has been recently described to be associated with Leigh syndrome. The 12297T>C mutation has been described in isolated dilated cardiomyopathy patients. Here, we report a family with multiple members who harbor both mutations, with only a few individuals who are affected with Leigh syndrome. Mitochondrial whole genome sequencing analysis in the proband's muscle specimen detected two nearly homoplasmic mutations: 14487T>C (M63V in ND6) and 12297T>C in the tRNA (Leu) (CUN) gene. These two mutations were also detected in the blood, urine sediments, hair follicles, and buccal swab samples of all matrilineal relatives tested. All individuals tested were nearly homoplasmic for the 12297T>C mutation, but had variable degrees of heteroplasmy for 14487T>C. We also screened for the frequency of these two mutations. Of 268 patients with Leigh or Leigh-like disease, one case was found to harbor the 14487T>C mutation (0.3%), and one had the 12297T>C mutation (0.3%). Neither mutation was detected in the 88 patients meeting MELAS syndrome criteria nor in the 56 patients with respiratory chain complex I or I+III deficiency. In conclusion, the 14487T>C mutation appears as the primary etiology of Leigh syndrome in this family, demonstrating the high level of heteroplasmy needed for a clinically significant phenotype with this mutation. The 12297T>C mutation was not associated with dilated cardiomyopathy for the family members who were clinically evaluated and who were shown by testing to be nearly homoplasmic for that mutation.
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PMID:Two mtDNA mutations 14487T>C (M63V, ND6) and 12297T>C (tRNA Leu) in a Leigh syndrome family. 1906 22

MELAS (mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) is a mitochondrial disease caused by one or more mutations of tRNA(Leu(UUR)). These mutations reduce both the aminoacylation of tRNA(Leu(UUR)) and a posttranslational modification in the wobble position of tRNA(Leu(UUR)). Both changes result in reduced transcription of mitochondria-encoded proteins; however, reduced aminoacylation affects the decoding of both UUG and UUA while the wobble defect specifically diminishes UUG decoding. Because 12 out of the 13 mitochondria-encoded proteins are more dependent on UUA decoding than UUG decoding, the aminoacylation defect should have a more profound effect on protein synthesis than the wobble defect, which more specifically alters the expression of one mitochondria-encoded protein, ND6. Taurine serves as a substrate in the formation of 5-taurinomethyluridine-tRNA(Leu(UUR)); therefore, taurine deficiency should mimic 5-taurinomethyluridine-tRNA(Leu(UUR)) deficiency. Hence, the wobble hypothesis predicts that the symptoms of MELAS mimic those of taurine deficiency, provided that the dominant defect in MELAS is wobble modification deficiency. On the other hand, if the aminoacylation defect dominates, significant differences should exist between taurine deficiency and MELAS. The present review tests this hypothesis by comparing the symptoms of MELAS and taurine deficiency.
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PMID:Taurine deficiency and MELAS are closely related syndromes. 2339 80