Skip to main content
Log in

Molecular basis of mitochondrial DNA disease

  • Published:
Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mitochondrial ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is essential for normal function and maintenance of human organ systems. Since OXPHOS biogenesis depends on both nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded gene products, mutations in both genomes can result in impaired electron transport and ATP synthesis, thus causing tissue dysfunction and, ultimately, human disease. Over 30 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point mutations and over 100mtDNA rearrangements have now been identified as etiological factors in human disease. Because of the unique characteristics of mtDNA genetics, genotype/phenotype associations are often complex and disease expression can be influenced by a number of factors, including the presence of nuclear modifying or susceptibility alleles. Accordingly, these mutations result in an extraordinarily broad spectrum of clinical phenotypes ranging from systemic, lethal pediatric disease to late-onset, tissue-specific neurodegenerative disorders. In spite of its complexity, an understanding of the molecular basis of mitochondrial DNA disease will be essential as the first step toward rationale and permanent curative therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, S., Bankier, A. T., Barrell, B. G., deBruijn, M. H. L., Coulson, A. R., Drouin, J., Eperon, I. C., Nierlich, D. P., Rose, B. A., Sanger, F., Schreier, P. H., Smith, A. J. H., Staden, R., and Young, I. G. (1981).Nature (London)290 457–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballinger, S. W., Shoffner, J. M., Hedaya, E. V., Trounce, I., Polak, M. A., Koontz, D. A., and Wallace, D. C. (1992).Nature Genet. 1 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulet, L., Karpati, G., and Shoubridge, E. A. (1992).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 51 1187–1200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bindoff, L. A., Howell, N., Poulton, J., McCullough, D. A., Morten, K. J., Lightowlers, R. N., Turnbull, D. M., and Weber, K. (1993).J. Biol. Chem. 268 19559–19564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brockington, M., Sweeney, M. G., Hammans, S. R., Morgan-Hughes, J. A., and Harding, A. E. (1993).Nature. Genet. 4 67–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. D., Voljavec, A. S., Lott, M. T., Torroni, A., Yang, C., and Wallace, D. C. (1992a).Genetics 130 163–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. D., Voljavec, A. S., Lott, M. T., MacDonald, I., and Wallace, D. C. (1992b).FASEB J. 6 2791–2799.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. D., Yang, C. C., Trounce, I., Torroni, A., Lott, M. T., and Wallace, D. C. (1992c).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 51 378–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. D., Torroni, A., Shoffner, J. M., and Wallace, D. C. (1992d).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 51 446–447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, M. D., Shoffner, J. M., Kim, Y. L., Jun, A. S., Graham, B., Cabell, M., and Wallace, D. C. (1994).Genomics, submitted.

  • Bu, X., Shohat, M., Jaber, L., and Rotter, J. I. (1993)Gen. Epidem. 10 3–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho, M. R. S., Muller, B., Rotzer, E., Berninger, T., Krommerell, G., Blankenagel, A., Savontaus, M. L., Meitinger, T., and Lorenz, B. (1992).Hum. Hered. 42 316–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, J.-D., Cox, I., and Denton, M. J. (1989).Hum. Genet. 82 203–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chomyn, A., Meola, G., Bresolin, N., Lai, S. T., Scarlato, G., and Attardi, G. (1991).Mol. Cell Biol. 11 2236–2244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chomyn, A., Martinuzzi, A., Yoneda, M., Daga, Al, Hurko, O., Johns, D., Lai, S. T., Nonaka, I., Angelini, C., and Attardi, G. (1992).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89 4221–4225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christianson, T. W., and Clayton, D. A. (1986).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83 6277–6281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, A. B., Stepien, G., Haraguchi, Y., Li, K., and Wallace, D. C. (1992).J. Biol. Chem. 267 21154–21161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corral-Debrinski, M., Stepien, G., Shoffner, J. M., Lott, M. T., Kanter, K., and Wallace, D. C. (1991).J. Am. Med. Assoc. 266 1812–1816.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corral-Debrinski, M., Horton, T., Lott, M. T., Shoffner, J. M., Beal, M. F., and Wallace, D. C. (1992a).Nature Genet. 2 324–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corral-Debrinski, M., Shoffner, J. M., Lott, M. T., and Wallace, D. C. (1992b).Mutat. Res. 275 169–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortopassi, G. A., and Arnheim, N. (1990).Nucleic Acids Res. 18 6927–6933.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cortopassi, G. A., Shibata, D., Soong, N. W., and Arnheim, N. (1992).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89 7370–7374.

    Google Scholar 

  • deVries, D. D., Van Engelen, B. G., Gabreels, F. J., Ruitenbeek, W., and Van Oost, B. A. (1993).Ann. Neurol. 34 410–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang, W., Huang, C. C., Lee, C. C., Cheng, S. Y., Pang, C. Y., and Wei, Y. H. (1993).Arch. Neurol. 50 977–980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerbitz, K. D., Paprotta, A., Jaksch, M., Zierz, S., and Drechsel, J. (1993).FEBS Lett. 321 194–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goto, Y., Nonaka, I., and Horai, S. (1990).Nature (London)348 651–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goto, Y., Nonaka, I., and Horai, S. (1991).Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1097 238–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goto, Y., Tojo, M., Tohyama, J., Horai, S., and Nonaka, I. (1992).Ann. Neurol. 31 672–675.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haraguchi, Y., Chung, A. B., Torroni, A., Stepien, G., Shoffner, J. M., Wasmuth, J. J., Costigan, D. A., Polak, M., Altherr, M. R., Winokur, S. T., and Wallace, D. C. (1993).Genomics 16 479–485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi, J.-I., Ohta, S., Kikuchi, A., Takemitsu, M., Goto, Y.-I., and Nonaka, I. (1991).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88 10614–10618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heddi, A., Lestienne, P., Wallace, D. C., and Stepien, G. (1993).J. Biol. Chem. 268 12156–12163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heher, K. L., and Johns, D. R. (1993).Arch. Ophthalmol. 111 1495–1499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess, J. F., Parisi, M. A., Bennett, J. L., and Clayton, D. A. (1991).Nature (London)351 236–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holt, I. J., Harding, A. E., Petty, R. K., and Morgan-Hughes, J. A. (1990).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 46 428–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, N., Bindoff, L. A., McCullough, D. A., Kubacka, I., Poulton, J., Mackey, D., Taylor, L., and Turnbull, D. M. (1991a).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 49 939–950.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, N., Kubacka, I., Xu, M., and McCullough, D. A. (1991b).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 48 935–942.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, N., Halvorson, S., Burns, J., McCullough, D. A., and Poulton, J. (1993a).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 53 959–963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howell, N., Kubacka, I., Halvorson, S., and Mackey, D. (1993b).Genetics 133 133–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huoponen, K., Vilkki, J., Aula, P., Nikoskelainen, E. K., and Savontaus, M. L. (1991).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 48 1147–1153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huoponen, K., Lamminen, T., Juvonen, V., Aula, P., Nikoskelainen, E. and Savontaus, J. L. (1993).Hum. Genet. 92 379–384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ichiki, T., Tanaka, M., Nishikimi, M., Suzuki, H., Kobayashi, M., Ozawa, T., and Wada, Y. (1988).Ann. Neurol. 23 287–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaber, L., Shohat, M., Bu, X., Fishel-Ghodsian, N., Yang, H. Y., Wang, S. J., and Rotter, J. I. (1992).J. Med. Genet. 29 86–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, D. R., and Berman, J. (1991).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 174 1324–1330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, D. R., and Neufeld, M. J. (1991).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 181 1358–1364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, D. R., Neufeld, M. J., and Park, R. D. (1992).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 187 1551–1557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, D. R., and Neufeld, M. J. (1993).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 196 810–815.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, D. R., Heher, K. L., Miller, N. R., and Smith, K. H. (1993a).Arch. Ophthalmol. 111 495–498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns, D. R., Smith, K. H., Savino, P. J., and Miller, N. R. (1993b).Arch. Ophthalmol. 110 981–986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jun, A. S., Brown, M. D., and Wallace, D. C. (1994).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, in press.

  • Kobayashi, M., Morishita, H., Sugiyama, N., Tokochi, K., and Nakano, M. (1987).J. Pediat. 110 223–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, N. G., Holme, E., Kristiansson, B., Oldfors, A., and Tulinius, M. (1990).Pediatr. Res. 28 131–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnane, A. W., Marzuki, S., Ozawa, T., and Tanaka, M. (1989).Lancet 1 642–645.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lomax, M. I., and Grossman, L. I. (1989).Trends Biochem. Sci. 14 501–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackey, D., and Howell, N. (1992).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 51 1218–1228.

    Google Scholar 

  • McShane, M. A., Hammans, M., Sweeny, I., Holt, I. J., and Beattie, T. J. (1991).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 48 39–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merante, F., Tein, I., Benson, L., and Robinson, B. H. (1993).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 53 (suppl.) 928.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mita, S., Schmidt, B., Shon, E. A., DiMauro, S., and Bonilla, E. (1989).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86 9509–9513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes, C. T., DiMauro, S., Zeviani, M., Lombes, A., Shanske, S., Miranda, A. F., Nakase, H., Bonilla, E., Werneck, L. C., Servidei, S., Nonaka, I., Koga, Y., Spiro, A. J., Brownell, K. W., Schmidt, B., Schotland, D. L., Zupanc, M., DeVivo, D. C., Shon, E. A., and Rowland, L. P. (1989).N. Engl. J. Med. 320 1293–1299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes, C. T., Ricci, E., Bonilla, E., DiMauro, S., and Shon, E. A. (1992a).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 50 934–949.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes, C. T., Ricci, E., Petruzzella, V., Shanske, S., DiMauro, S., Shon, E. A., and Bonilla, E. (1992b).Nature Genet. 1 359–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes, C. T., Ciacci, F., Bonilla, E., Ionasescu, V., Schon, E. A., and DiMauro, S. A. (1993).Nature Genet. 4 284–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakase, H., Moraes, C. T., Rizzuto, R., Lombes, A., DiMauro, S., and Shon, E. A. (1990).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 46 418–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neckelmann, N., Li, K., Wade, R. P., Shuster, R., and Wallace, D. C. (1987).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84 7580–7584.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neckelmann, N., Warner, C. K., Chung, A., Kudoh, J., Minoshima, S., Fukuyama, R., Maekawa, M., Shimizu, Y., Shimizu, N., Liu, J. D., and Wallace, D. C. (1989).Genomics 5 829–843.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, N. J., Lott, M. T., and Wallace, D. C. (1991).Am. J. Ophthalmol. 111 750–762.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noer, A. S., Sudoya, H., Lertrit, P., Thyagarajan, D., Utthanaphol, P., Kapsa, R., Byrne, E., and Marzuki, S. (1991).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 49 715–722.

    Google Scholar 

  • Novotny, E. J. Jr., Singh, G., Wallace, D. C., Dorfman, L. J., Louis, A., Sogg, R. L., and Steinman, L. (1986).Neurology 36 1053–1060.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obayashi, T., Hattori, K., Sugiyama, S., Tanaka, M., Tanaka, T., Itoyama, S., Deguchi, H., Kawamura, K., Koga, Y., Toshima, H., Takeda, N., Nagano, M., Ito, T., and Ozawa, T. (1992).Am. Heart. J. 124 1263–1269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obermaier-Kusser, B., Paetzke-Brunner, I., Enter, C., Muller-Hocker, J., Zierz, S., Ruitenbeek, W., and Gerbitz, K. D. (1991).FEBS Lett. 286 67–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozawa, T., Tanaka, M., Sugiyama, S., Hattori, K., and Ito, T. (1990).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 170 830–836.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulton, J., Deadman, M. E., Ramacharan, S., and Gardiner, R. M. (1991).Am. J. Hum Genet. 48 649–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulton, J., Deadman, M. E., Bindoff, L., Morten, K., Land, J., and Brown, G. (1993).Hum. Mol. Genet. 2 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prezant, T. R., Shohat, M., Jaber, L., Pressman, S., and Fishel-Ghodsian, N. (1992).Am. J. Med. Genet. 44 465–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prezant, T. R., Agapian, J. V., Bohlman, M. C., Bu, X., Oztas, S., Qiu, W. Q., Arnos, D. S., Cortopassi, G. A., Jaber, L., Rotter, J. I., Shohat, M., and Fishel-Ghodsian, N. (1993).Nature Genet. 4 289–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rotig, A., Bessis, J. L., Romero, N., Cormier, V., Saudubray, J. M., Narcy, P., Lenoir, G., Rustin, P., and Munnich, A. (1992).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 50 364–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoffner, J. M., and Wallace, D. C. (1990).Adv. Hum. Genet. 19 267–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoffner, J. M., Lott, M. T., Voljavec, A. S., Souedian, S. A., Costigan, D. A., and Wallace, D. C. (1989).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86 7952–7956.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoffner, J. M., Lott, M. T., Lezza, A. M., Seibel, P., Ballinger, S. W., and Wallace, D. C. (1990).Cell 61 931–937.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoffner, J. M., Fernhoff, M. D., Krawiecki, N. S., Caplan, D. B., Holt, P. J., Koontz, D. A., Takei, Y., Newman, N. J., Ortiz, R. G., Polak, M., Ballinger, S. W., Lott, M. T., and Wallace, D. C. (1992).Neurology 42 2168–2174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoffner, J. M., Brown, M. D., Torroni, A., Lott, M. T., Cabell, M. R., Mirra, S. S., Beal, M. F., Yang, C.-C., Gearing, M., Salvo, R., Watts, R. L., Juncos, J. L., Hansen, L. A., Crain, B. J., Fayad, M., Reckord, C. L., and Wallace, D. C. (1993).Genomics 17 171–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shoubridge, E. A., Karpati, G., and Hastings, K. E. (1990).Cell 62 43–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silvestri, G., Moraes, C. T., Shanske, S., Oh, S. J., and DiMauro, S. (1992).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 51 1213–1217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silvestri, G., Shanske, S., Whitley, C. B., Schimmenti, L. A., Smith, S. A., and DiMauro, S. (1993).Neurology 43, A402, 940S.

  • Slipetz, D. M., Aprille, J. R., Goodyer, P. R., and Rozen, R. (1991).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 48 502–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stepien, G., Torroni, A., Chung, A. B., Hodge, J. A., and Wallace, D. C. (1992).J. Biol. Chem. 267 14592–14597.

    Google Scholar 

  • Suomalainen, A., Majander, A., Pihko, H., Peltonen, L., and Syvanen, A. C. (1993).Hum. Mol. Genet. 2 525–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweeney, M. G., Davis, M. B., Lashwood, A., Brockington, M., Toscano, A., and Harding, A. E. (1992).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 51 741–748.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, M., Ino, H., Ohno, K., Hattori, K., Sato, W., Ozawa, T., Tanaka, T., and Itoyama, S. (1990).Lancet 3 1452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taniike, M., Fukushima, H., Yanagihara, I., Tsukamoto, H., Tanaka, J., Fujimura, H., Najai, T., Sano, T., Yamaoka, K., Inui, K., and Okada, S. (1992).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 186 47–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatuch, Y., Christodoulou, J., Feigenbaum, A., Clarke, J. T. R., Wherret, J., Smith, C., Rudd, N., Petrova-Benedict, R., and Robinson, B. H. (1992).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 50 852–858.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torroni, A., Schurr, T. G., Yang, C.-C., Szathmary, E. J. E., Williams, R. C., Shanfield, M. S., Troup, G. A., Knowler, W. C., Lawrence, D. N., Weiss, K. M., and Wallace, D. C. (1992).Genetics 130 153–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torroni, A., Schurr, T. G., Cabell, M. F., Brown, M. D., Neel, J. V., Larsen, M., Smith, D. B., Vullo, C. M., and Wallace, D. C. (1993).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 53 563–590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torroni, A., Lott, M. T., Cabell, M. F., Chen, Y. S., Lavernge, L., and Wallace, D. C. (1994).Am. J. Hum. Genet., submitted.

  • Trounce, I., Byrne, E., and Marzuki, S. (1989).Lancet 1 637–639.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trounce, I., Neil, S., and Wallace, D. C. (1994). Submitted.

  • van den Ouweland, J. M., Lemkes, H. H. P., Ruitenbeek, W., Sandkjuji, L. A., de Vijlder, M. F., Struyvenberg, P. A., Van de Kamp, J. J. P., and Maassen, J. A. (1992).Nature Genet. 1 368–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilkki, J., Ott, J., Savontaus, M. L., Aula, P., and Nikoskelainen, E. K. (1991).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 48 486–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C. (1992).Annu. Rev. Biochem. 61 1175–1212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C. (1993).Trends Genet. 9 128–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C., Yang, J., Ye, J., Lott, M. T., Oliver, N. A., and McCarthy, J. (1986).Am. J. Hum. Genet. 38 461–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C., Ye, J. H., Neckelmann, N., Singh, G., Webster, K. A., and Greenberg, B. D. (1987).Curr. Genet. 12 81–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C., Singh, G., Lott, M. T., Hodge, J. A., Schurr, T. G., Lezza, A. M., Elsas, L. J., and Nikoskelainen, E. K. (1988a).Science 242 1427–1430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C., Zheng, X., Lott, M. T., Shoffner, J. M., Hodge, J. A., Kelly, R. I., Epstein, C. M., and Hopkins, L. C. (1988b).Cell 55 601–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, D. C., Brown, M. D., and Jun, A. S. (1993a). Abstract 1120, CCM93, Kobe, Japan.

  • Wallace, D. C., Lott, M. T., Torroni, A., and Brown, M. D. (1993b).Genome Priority Rep. 1 727–757.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wijmenga, C., Winokur, S. T., Padberg, G. W., Skraastad, M. I., Altherr, M. R., Wasmuth, J. J., Murray, J. C., Hofker, M. H., and Frants, R. R. (1993).Hum. Genet. 92 198–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, R. S., Garcia-Moll, M., Mellor, J., Salmons, S., and Harlan, W. (1987).J. Biol. Chem. 262 2764–2767.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worsfold, M., Park, D. C., and Pennington, R. J. (1973).J. Neurol. Sci. 19 261–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yen, T. C., Chen, Y. S., King, K. L., Yeh, S. H., and Wei, Y. H. (1989).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 165 944–1003.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoneda, M., Tanno, Y., Horai, S., Ozawa, T., Miyatake, T., and Tsuji, S. (1990).Biochem. Int. 21 789–796.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, K., Aprille, J. R., and Ernst, S. G. (1991).Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 176 1112–1115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeviani, M., Servidei, S., Gellera, C., Bertini, E., DiMavro, S., and DiDonato, S. (1989).Nature 339 309–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeviani, M., Gellera, C., Antozzi, C., Rimoldi, M., Villani, F., Tiranti, V., and DiDonato, S. (1991).Lancet 338 143–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeviani, M., Mutoni, F., Savarese, N., Serra, G., Tiranti, V., Carrara, F., Mariotti, C., and DiDonato, S. (1993).Eur. J. Hum. Genet. 1 80–87.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brown, M.D., Wallace, D.C. Molecular basis of mitochondrial DNA disease. J Bioenerg Biomembr 26, 273–289 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00763099

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00763099

Key words

Navigation