Skip to main content
Log in

Disorders of Nuclear-Mitochondrial Intergenomic Communication

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bioscience Reports

Abstract

In the course of evolution, mitochondria lost their independence, and mtDNA became “slave” of nDNA, depending on numerous nucleus-encoded factors for its integrity, replication and expression. Mutations in any of these factors may alter the cross-talk between the two genomes and cause diseases that affect mtDNA integrity or expression, being inherited as mendelian traits.

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

  • Agostino A, Valletta L, Chinnery PF et al (2003) Mutations of ANT1, Twinkle, and POLG1 in sporadic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO). Neurology 60:1354–1356

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Antonicka H, Sasarman F, Kennaway NG, Shoubridge EA (2006) The molecular basis for tissue specificity of the oxidative phosphorylation deficiencies in patients with mutations in the mitochondrial translation factor EFG1. Hum Mol Genet 15(11):1835–1846. Epub 2006 Apr 21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bykhovskaya Y, Casas K, Mengesha E, Inbal A, Fischel-Ghodsian N (2004) Missense mutation in pseudouridine synthase 1 (PUS1) causes mitochondrial myopathy and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA). Am J Hum Genet 74(6):1303–1308. Epub 2004 Apr 22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calvo S, Jain M, Xie X, Sheth SA, Chang B, Goldberger OA, Spinazzola A, Zeviani M, Carr SA, Mootha VK (2006) Systematic identification of human mitochondrial disease genes through integrative genomics. Nat Genet 38(5):576–582. Epub 2006 Apr 2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clayton DA (2000) Vertebrate mitochondrial DNA-a circle of surprises. Exp Cell Res 255(1):4–9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coenen MJ, Antonicka H, Ugalde C, Sasarman F, Rossi R, Heister JG, Newbold RF, Trijbels FJ, van den Heuvel LP, Shoubridge EA, Smeitink JA (2004) Mutant mitochondrial elongation factor G1 and combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency. N Engl J Med 351(20):2080–2086

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Contamine V, Picard M (2000) Maintenance and integrity of the mitochondrial genome: a plethora of nuclear genes in the budding yeast. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 64(2):281–315. Review

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidzon G, Mancuso M, Ferraris S et al (2005) POLG mutations and Alpers syndrome. Ann Neurol 57(6):921–923

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deschauer M, Kiefer R, Blakely EL, He L, Zierz S, Turnbull DM, Taylor RW (2003) A novel Twinkle gene mutation in autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Neuromuscul Disord 13(7–8):568–72

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elpeleg O, Miller C, Hershkovitz E et al (2005) Deficiency of the ADP-forming succinyl-CoA synthase activity is associated with encephalomyopathy and mitochondrial DNA depletion. Am J Hum Genet 76(6):1081–1086. Epub 2005 Apr 22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Vizarra E, Berardinelli A, Valente L, Tiranti V, Zeviani M (2007) Nonsense mutation in pseudouridylate synthase 1 (PUS1) in two brothers affected by myopathy, lactic acidosis and sideroblastic anemia (MLASA). J Med Genet 44(3):173–180

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari G, Lamantea E, Donati A et al (2005) Infantile hepatocerebral syndromes associated with mutations in the mitochondrial DNA polymerase-gammaA. Brain 128(Pt 4):723–731. Epub 2005 Feb 2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferraro P, Pontarin G, Crocco L et al (2005) Mitochondrial deoxynucleotide pools in quiescent fibroblasts: a possible model for mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE). J Biol Chem 280(26):24472–24480. Epub 2005 May 5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Filosto M, Mancuso M, Nishigaki Y et al (2003) Clinical and genetic heterogeneity in progressive external ophthalmoplegia due to mutations in polymerase gamma. Arch Neurol 60:1279–1284

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao J, Yu L, Zhang P, Jiang J, Chen J, Peng J, Wei Y, Zhao S (2001) Cloning and characterization of human and mouse mitochondrial elongation factor G, GFM and Gfm, and mapping of GFM to human chromosome 3q25.1-q26.2. Genomics 74(1):109–114

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Graziewicz MA, Longley MJ, Bienstock RJ, Zeviani M, Copeland WC (2004) Structure-function defects of human mitochondrial DNA polymerase in autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Nat Struct Mol Biol 11:770–776

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirano M, Marti R, Ferreiro-Barros C, Vila MR, Tadesse S, Nishigaki Y, Nishino I, Vu TH (2001) Defects of intergenomic communication: autosomal disorders that cause multiple deletions and depletion of mitochondrial DNA. Semin Cell Dev Biol 12(6):417–427. Review

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hirano M, Silvestri G, Blake DM et al (1994) Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE): clinical, biochemical, and genetic features of an autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder. Neurology 44:721–727

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holt IJ, Lorimer HE, Jacobs HT (2000) Coupled leading- and lagging-strand synthesis of mammalian mitochondrial DNA. Cell 100(5):515–524

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horvath R, Hudson G, Ferrari G, Futterer N et al (2006) Phenotypic spectrum associated with mutations of the mitochondrial polymerase gamma gene. Brain 129(Pt 7):1674–1684. Epub 2006 Apr 18

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobs HT, Turnbull DM (2005) Nuclear genes and mitochondrial translation: a new class of genetic disease. Trends Genet 21(6):312–314. Review

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kajander OA, Rovio AT, Majamaa K et al (2000) Human mtDNA sublimons resemble rearranged mitochondrial genomes found in pathological states. Hum Mol Genet 9(19):2821–2835

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karadimas CL, Vu TH, Holve SA et al (2006) Navajo neurohepatopathy is caused by a mutation in the MPV17 gene. Am J Hum Genet 79(3):544–548. Epub 2006 Jun 28

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaukonen J, Juselius JK, Tiranti V et al (2000) Role of adenine nucleotide translocator 1 in mtDNA maintenance. Science 289:782–785

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koc EC, Spremulli LL (2002) Identification of mammalian mitochondrial translational initiation factor 3 and examination of its role in initiation complex formation with natural mRNAs. J Biol Chem 277(38):35541–35549. Epub 2002 Jul 2

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koskinen T, Sainio K, Rapola J, Pihko H, Paetau A (1994) Sensory neuropathy in infantile onset spinocerebellar ataxia (IOSCA). Muscle Nerve 17(5):509–515

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lamantea E, Tiranti V, Bordoni A et al (2002) Mutations of mitochondrial DNA polymerase gammaA are a frequent cause of autosomal dominant or recessive progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Ann Neurol 52(2):211–219

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ling M, Merante F, Chen HS, Duff C, Duncan AM, Robinson BH (1997) The human mitochondrial elongation factor tu (EF-Tu) gene: cDNA sequence, genomic localization, genomic structure, and identification of a pseudogene. Gene 197(1–2):325–336

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Longley MJ, Clark S, Yu Wai Man C et al (2006) Mutant POLG2 disrupts DNA polymerase gamma subunits and causes progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Am J Hum Genet 78(6):1026–1034

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Luoma P, Melberg A, Rinne JO et al (2004) Parkinsonism, premature menopause, and mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma mutations: clinical and molecular genetic study. Lancet 364(9437):875–882

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma L, Spremulli LL (1995) Cloning and sequence analysis of the human mitochondrial translational initiation factor 2 cDNA. J Biol Chem 270(4):1859–1865

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mandel H, Szargel R, Labay V et al (2001) The deoxyguanosine kinase gene is mutated in individuals with depleted hepatocerebral mitochondrial DNA. Nat Genet 29:337–341

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marti R, Spinazzola A, Tadesse S, Nishino I, Nishigaki Y, Hirano M (2004) Definitive diagnosis of mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy by biochemical assays. Clin Chem 50(1):120–124

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marti R, Verschuuren JJ, Buchman A, Hirano I, Tadesse S (2005) Late- onset MNGIE due to partial loss of thymidine phosphorylase activity. Ann Neurol 58(4):649–652

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller C, Saada A, Shaul N, Shabtai N, Ben-Shalom E, Shaag A, Hershkovitz E, Elpeleg O (2004) Defective mitochondrial translation caused by a ribosomal protein (MRPS16) mutation. Ann Neurol 56(5):734–738

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mizusawa H, Watanabe M, Kanazawa I et al (1988) Familial mitochondrial myopathy associated with peripheral neuropathy: partial deficiencies of complex 1 and complex 4. J Neurol Sci 86:171–184

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moraes CT, Shanske S, Tritschler HJ et al (1991) mtDNA depletion with variable tissue expression: a novel genetic abnormality in mitochondrial diseases. Am J Hum Genet 48:492–501

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moslemi AR, Melberg A, Holme E, Oldfors A (1996) Clonal expansion of mitochondrial DNA with multiple deletions in autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Ann Neurol 40:707–713

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Naviaux RK, Nguyen KV (2004) POLG mutations associated with Alpers’ syndrome and mitochondrial DNA depletion. Ann Neurol 55:706–712

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nikali K, Suomalainen A, Saharinen J, Kuokkanen M, Spelbrink JN, Lonnqvist T, Peltonen L (2005) Infantile onset spinocerebellar ataxia is caused by recessive mutations in mitochondrial proteins Twinkle and Twinky. Hum Mol Genet 14(20):2981–2990

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishigaki Y, Marti R, Copeland WC, Hirano M (2003) Site-specific somatic mitochondrial DNA point mutations in patients with thymidine phosphorylase deficiency. J Clin Invest 111(12):1913–1922

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nishino I, Spinazzola A, Hirano M (1999) Thymidine phosphorylase gene mutations in MNGIE, a human mitochondrial disorder. Science 283:689–692

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oskoui M, Davidzon G, Pascual J, Erazo R et al (2006) Clinical spectrum of mitochondrial DNA depletion due to mutations in the thymidine kinase 2 gene. Arch Neurol 63(8):1122–1126. Review

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Palmieri L, Alberio S, Pisano I, Lodi T et al (2005) Complete loss-of-function of the heart/muscle-specific adenine nucleotide translocator is associated with mitochondrial myopathy and cardiomyopathy. Hum Mol Genet 14(20):3079–3088

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pontarin G, Ferraro P, Valentino ML et al (2006) Mitochondrial DNA depletion and thymidine phosphate pool dynamics in a cellular model of mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy. J Biol Chem 281(32):22720–22728

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saada A, Shaag A,Mandel H, Nevo Y, Eriksson S, Elpeleg O (2001) Mutant mitochondrial thymidine kinase in mitochondrial DNA depletion myopathy. Nat Genet 29:342–344

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salviati L., Sacconi S, Mancuso M, Otaegui D et al (2002) Mitochondrial DNA depletion and dGK gene mutations. Ann Neurol 52:311–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Servidei S, Zeviani M, Manfredi G et al (1991) Dominantly inherited mitochondrial myopathy with multiple deletions of mitochondrial DNA: clinical, morphologic, and biochemical studies. Neurology 41:1053–1059

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smeitink JA, Elpeleg O, Antonicka H, Diepstra H, Saada A, Smits P, Sasarman F, Vriend G, Jacob-Hirsch J, Shaag A, Rechavi G, Welling B, Horst J, Rodenburg RJ, van den Heuvel B, Shoubridge EA (2006) Distinct clinical phenotypes associated with a mutation in the mitochondrial translation elongation factor EFTs. Am J Hum Genet 79(5):869–877

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spelbrink JN, Li FY, Tiranti V et al (2001) Human mitochondrial DNA deletions associated with mutations in the gene encoding Twinkle, a phage T7 gene 4-like protein localized in mitochondria. Nat Genet 28(3):223–31

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spinazzola A, Marti R, Nishino I et al (2002) Altered thymidine metabolism due to defects of thymidine phosphorylase. J Biol Chem 277(6):4128–4133

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spinazzola A, Viscomi C, Fernandez-Vizarra E et al (2006) MPV17 encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein and is mutated in infantile hepatic mitochondrial DNA depletion. Nat Genet 38(5):570–575

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spinazzola A, Zeviani M (2005) Disorders of nuclear-mitochondrial intergenomic signaling. Gene 354:162–168. Review

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suomalainen A, Majander A, Wallin M, Setala K, Kontula K, Leinonen H, Salmi T, Paetau A, Haltia M, Valanne L, Lonnqvist J, Peltonen L, Somer H (1997) Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia with multiple deletions of mtDNA: clinical, biochemical, and molecular genetic features of the 10q-linked disease. Neurology 48(5):1244–1253

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trifunovic A, Wredenberg A, Falkenberg M, Spelbrink JN, Rovio AT, Bruder CE, Bohlooly-Y M, Gidlof S, Oldfors A, Wibom R, Tornell J, Jacobs HT, Larsson NG (2004) Premature ageing in mice expressing defective mitochondrial DNA polymerase. Nature 429(6990):417–423

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tritschler HJ, Andreetta F, Moraes CT et al (1992) Mitochondrial myopathy of childhood associated with depletion of mitochondrial DNA. Neurology 42:209–217

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valente L, Tiranti V, Marsano RM, Malfatti E, Fernandez-Vizarra E, Donnini C, Mereghetti P, De Gioia L, Burlina A, Castellan C, Comi GP, Savasta S, Ferrero I, Zeviani M (2007) Infantile encephalopathy and defective mitochondrial DNA translation in patients with mutations of mitochondrial elongation factors EFG1 and EFTu. Am J Hum Genet 80(1):44–58

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Goethem G, Dermaut B, Lofgren A, Martin JJ, Van Broeckhoven C (2001) Mutation of POLG is associated with progressive external ophthalmoplegia characterized by mtDNA deletions. Nat Genet 28:211–212

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Goethem G, Luoma P, Rantamaki M et al (2004) POLG mutations in neurodegenerative disorders with ataxia but no muscle involvement. Neurology 63(7):1251–1257

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Goethem G, Martin JJ, Dermaut B et al (2003a) POLG mutations presenting with sensory and ataxic neuropathy in compound heterozygote patients with progressive external ophthalmoplegia. Neuromuscul Disord 13:133–142

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van Goethem G, Schwartz M, Lofgren A, Dermaut B, Van Broeckhoven C, Vissing J (2003b) Novel POLG mutations in progressive external ophthalmoplegia mimicking mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy. Eur J Hum Genet 11(7):547–549

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vu TH, Tanji K, Holve SA, Bonilla E et al (2001) Navajo neurohepatopathy: a mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome? Hepatology 34(1):116–120

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winterthun S, Ferrari G, He L et al (2005) Autosomal recessive mitochondrial ataxic syndrome due to mitochondrial polymerase gamma mutations. Neurology 64(7):1204–1248

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xin H, Woriax V, Burkhart W, Spremulli LL (1995) Cloning and expression of mitochondrial translational elongation factor Ts from bovine and human liver. J Biol Chem 270(29):17243–17249

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuzaki M, Ohkoshi N, Kanazawa I, Kagawa Y, Ohta S (1989) Multiple deletions in mitochondrial DNA at direct repeats of non-D-loop regions in cases of familial mitochondrial myopathy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 164:1352–1357

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeharia A, Fischel-Ghodsian N, Casas K, Bykhocskaya Y, Tamari H, Lev D, Mimouni M, Lerman-Sagie T (2005) Mitochondrial myopathy, sideroblastic anemia, and lactic acidosis: an autosomal recessive syndrome in Persian Jews caused by a mutation in the PUS1 gene. J Child Neurol 20(5):449–452

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Spremulli LL (1998) Identification and cloning of human mitochondrial translational release factor 1 and the ribosome recycling factor. Biochim Biophys Acta 1443(1–2):245–250

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeviani M, Servidei S, Gellera C, Bertini E, DiMauro S, DiDonato S (1989) An autosomal dominant disorder with multiple deletions of mitochondrial DNA starting at the D-loop region. Nature 339:309–311

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Massimo Zeviani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spinazzola, A., Zeviani, M. Disorders of Nuclear-Mitochondrial Intergenomic Communication. Biosci Rep 27, 39–51 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10540-007-9036-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10540-007-9036-1

Keywords

Navigation