A new family with a case of severe early-onset muscle fatigue and a peculiar maternally inherited painful swelling in chewing muscles associated with homoplasmic m.15992A>T mutation in mitochondrial tRNAPro

A 16-year-old boy was evaluated for a history of exercise-induced fatigability associated with nausea even after minimal effort, lower limbs muscle hypotrophy, and swelling of the masseter muscles after chewing. Laboratory tests were remarkable for hyperlactatemia and metabolic acidosis after short physical activity. The muscle biopsy showed non-specific mitochondrial alterations and an increase in intrafibral lipids. Biochemical analysis showed reduced activity of the respiratory chain complexes. Mitochondrial DNA sequencing revealed the presence of a homoplasmic variant m.15992A>T in the MT-TP gene, coding for the mt-tRNAPro in the patient, in his mother and in his brother. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in MT-TP gene are rare. They are responsible for different clinical presentation, almost ever involving the muscle tissue. We report the first family with exercise-induced muscle weakness and swelling of the chewing muscles due to m.15992A>T variant in absence of J1c10 haplogroup, confirming its pathogenicity.

Role of Mutations of Mitochondrial Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases Genes on Epileptogenesis

Mitochondria are the structures in cells that are responsible for producing energy. They contain a specific translation unit for synthesizing mitochondria-encoded respiratory chain components: the mitochondrial DNA (mt DNA). Recently, a growing number of syndromes associated with the dysfunction of mt DNA translation have been reported. However, the functions of these diseases still need to be precise and thus attract much attention. Mitochondrial tRNAs (mt tRNAs) are encoded by mt DNA; they are the primary cause of mitochondrial dysfunction and are associated with a wide range of pathologies. Previous research has shown the role of mt tRNAs in the epileptic mechanism. This review will focus on the function of mt tRNA and the role of mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (mt aaRS) in order to summarize some common relevant mutant genes of mt aaRS that cause epilepsy and the specific symptoms of the disease they cause.

Novel mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) 3261A > g mutation in two pedigrees with essential hypertension

BACKGROUND

Essential hypertension (EH) was associated with mitochondrial tRNA mutations.

AIMS

This study was designed to assess the association between EH and mitochondrial dysfunction.

METHODS

A total of 30 individuals from two different Chinese families exhibit maternally inherited EH were assessed for genetic, clinical, and biochemical phenotypes pertaining to EH and mitochondrial functionality. These analyses included assessments of tRNA^Leu(UUR) 3261A > G mutation status, mitochondrial membrane permeability, mitochondria-associated ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and electron transport chain functionality.

RESULTS

EH was detected in 6 total analyzed members of the two families assessed in the present study, with its initial age of onset and presentation varying among patients. These patients with EH exhibited the tRNA^Leu(UUR) 3261A > G mutation and were of the B5 and D4 Eastern Asian mitochondrial haplogroups. This 3261A > G mutation was predicted to result in disruption of normal tRNA^Leu(UUR) activity owing to the destabilization of conserved base pairing (30A-40U). Consistent with this prediction, we found that cybrid cell lines exhibiting this 3261A > G mutation exhibited a ~49.05% decrease in baseline tRNA^Leu(UUR) levels. These cells additionally exhibited ~44.81% reductions in rates of mitochondrial translation.

CONCLUSIONS

To facilitate future molecular diagnosis, the 3261A > G mutation should be included in the list of hereditary risk factors. Our findings will aid in the counseling of EH families.

Novel m.4268T>C mutation in the mitochondrial tRNAIle gene is associated with hearing loss in two Chinese families

BACKGROUND

Herein, we report the genetic, clinical, molecular and biochemical features of two Han Chinese pedigrees with suggested maternally transmitted non-syndromic hearing loss.

AIM

To investigate the pathophysiology of hearing loss associated with mitochondrial tRNA mutations.

METHODS

Sixteen subjects from two Chinese families with hearing loss underwent clinical, genetic, molecular, and biochemical evaluations. Biochemical characterizations included the measurements of tRNA levels using lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from five affected matrilineal relatives of these families and three control subjects.

RESULTS

Three of the 16 matrilineal relatives in these families exhibited a variable seriousness and age-at-onset (8 years) of deafness. Analysis of mtDNA mutation identified the novel homoplasmic tRNA^Ile 4268T>C mutation in two families both belonging to haplogroup D4j. The 4268T>C mutation is located in a highly conserved base pairing (6U–67A) of tRNA^Ile. The elimination of 6U–67A base-pairing may change the tRNA^Ile metabolism. Functional mutation was supported by an approximately 64.6% reduction in the level of tRNA^Ile observed in the lymphoblastoid cell lines with the 4268T>C mutation, in contrast to the wild-type cell lines. The reduced level of tRNA was below the proposed threshold for normal respiration in lymphoblastoid cells. However, genotyping analysis did not detect any mutations in the prominent deafness-causing gene GJB2 in any members of the family.

CONCLUSION

These data show that the novel tRNA^Ile 4268T>C mutation was involved in maternally transmitted deafness. However, epigenetic, other genetic, or environmental factors may be attributed to the phenotypic variability. These findings will be useful for understanding families with maternally inherited deafness.

Clinical heterogeneity in patients with m.4412G > A MT-TM mutation and different heteroplasmy levels

The identification of the m.4412G > A MT-TM (mt-tRNA^Met) mutation was first reported in 2019. The affected individual presented with childhood-onset seizures and myopathy and bilateral basal ganglia changes, with heteroplasmy levels in muscle as high as 90%. Here, we describe another adult-onset patient with the same mutation and additional phenotypes, including hearing impairment, cerebellar ataxia, progressive dementia, and myopathy. The 10% heteroplasmy level observed in skin fibroblasts from this patient are lower than those in the previously reported patient. Our report suggests possible clinical heterogeneity in patients with mitochondrial tRNA mutations based on heteroplasmy levels.

Cdk5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1 knockout mice show hearing loss phenotypically similar to age-related hearing loss

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with aging and age-related hearing loss (AHL). However, the precise mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of hearing loss remain unclear. Cdk5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1 (CDK5RAP1) enables efficient intramitochondrial translation by catalyzing the deposition of 2-methylthio modifications on mitochondrial tRNAs. Here we investigated the effect of defective mitochondrial protein translation on hearing and AHL in a Cdk5rap1 deficiency C57BL/6 mouse model. Compared to control C57BL/6 mice, Cdk5rap1-knockout female mice displayed hearing loss phenotypically similar to AHL from an early age. The premature hearing loss in Cdk5rap1-knockout mice was associated with the degeneration of the spiral ligament and reduction of endocochlear potentials following the loss of auditory sensory cells. Furthermore, cultured primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts displayed early onset of cellular senescence associated with high oxidative stress and cell death. These results indicate that the CDK5RAP1 deficiency-induced defective mitochondrial translation might cause early hearing loss through the induction of cellular senescence and cochlear dysfunction in the inner ear. Our results suggest that the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria might promote AHL progression. Furthermore, our findings suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and dysregulated mitochondrial tRNA modifications mechanistically cause AHL. Understanding the mechanisms underlying AHL will guide future clinical investigations and interventions in the attempt to mitigate the consequences of AHL.

Intronic tRNAs of mitochondrial origin regulate constitutive and alternative splicing

BACKGROUND

The presence of nuclear mitochondrial DNA (numtDNA) has been reported within several nuclear genomes. Next to mitochondrial protein-coding genes, numtDNA sequences also encode for mitochondrial tRNA genes. However, the biological roles of numtDNA remain elusive.

RESULTS

Employing in silico analysis, we identify 281 mitochondrial tRNA homologs in the human genome, which we term nimtRNAs (nuclear intronic mitochondrial-derived tRNAs), being contained within introns of 76 nuclear host genes. Despite base changes in nimtRNAs when compared to their mtRNA homologs, a canonical tRNA cloverleaf structure is maintained. To address potential functions of intronic nimtRNAs, we insert them into introns of constitutive and alternative splicing reporters and demonstrate that nimtRNAs promote pre-mRNA splicing, dependent on the number and positioning of nimtRNA genes and splice site recognition efficiency. A mutational analysis reveals that the nimtRNA cloverleaf structure is required for the observed splicing increase. Utilizing a CRISPR/Cas9 approach, we show that a partial deletion of a single endogenous nimtRNALys within intron 28 of the PPFIBP1 gene decreases inclusion of the downstream-located exon 29 of the PPFIBP1 mRNA. By employing a pull-down approach followed by mass spectrometry, a 3'-splice site-associated protein network is identified, including KHDRBS1, which we show directly interacts with nimtRNATyr by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

CONCLUSIONS

We propose that nimtRNAs, along with associated protein factors, can act as a novel class of intronic splicing regulatory elements in the human genome by participating in the regulation of splicing.

A novel acceptor stem variant in mitochondrial tRNATyr impairs mitochondrial translation and is associated with a severe phenotype

Genetic defects in mitochondrial DNA encoded tRNA genes impair mitochondrial translation with resultant defects in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation system. The phenotypic spectrum of disease seen in mitochondrial tRNA defects is variable and proving pathogenicity of new variants is challenging. Only three pathogenic variants have been described previously in the mitochondrial tRNA^Tyr gene MT-TY, with the reported phenotypes consisting largely of adult onset myopathy and ptosis. We report a patient with a novel MT-TY acceptor stem variant m.5889A>G at high heteroplasmy in muscle, low in blood, and absent in the mother's blood. The phenotype consisted of a childhood-onset severe multi-system disorder characterized by a neurodegenerative course including ataxia and seizures, failure-to-thrive, combined myopathy and neuropathy, and hearing and vision loss. Brain imaging showed progressive atrophy and basal ganglia calcifications. Mitochondrial biomarkers lactate and GDF15 were increased. Functional studies showed a deficient activity of the respiratory chain enzyme complexes containing mtDNA-encoded subunits I, III and IV. There were decreased steady state levels of these mitochondrial complex proteins, and presence of incompletely assembled complex V forms in muscle. These changes are typical of a mitochondrial translational defect. These data support the pathogenicity of this novel variant. Careful review of variants in MT-TY additionally identified two other pathogenic variants, one likely pathogenic variant, nine variants of unknown significance, five likely benign and four benign variants.

Maternally inherited coronary heart disease is associated with a novel mitochondrial tRNA mutation

Background

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of mortality globally, yet mitochondrial genetic mutations associated with CHD development remain incompletely understood.

Methods

The subjects from three Chinese families with LHON underwent clinical, genetic, molecular, and biochemical evaluations. Biochemical characterizations included measuring the effects of the15910C > T mutation on tRNA^Thr levels, enzymatic activity of electron transport chain complexes, membrane permeability, and the mitochondria-mediated generation of both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

Results

We characterize mitochondrial genetic mutations in a three-generation Chinese family exhibiting signs of maternally inherited CHD. Of the 24 different family members in this pedigree we assessed, CHD was detected in 6, with variable severity and age of first appearance. When we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of these individuals, we found a tRNA^Thr 15910C > T mutation of the Eastern Asian haplogroup M7b’c. This mutation is predicted to destabilize the strongly conserved (24C-10G) base-pairing, thereby disrupting tRNA^Thr functionality. When we performed Northern blotting, we detected we observed a 37.5% reduction in tRNA^Thr levels at baseline in cybrid cell lines bearing the 15910C > T mutation. When we conducted western blot analysis, we detected a ~ 24.96% decrease in mitochondrial translation rates in these same cells.

Conclusions

In the present report, Together these findings suggest a possible link between this 15910C > T tRNA^Thr mutation and CHD, potentially offering new avenues for future disease intervention.

A deafness-associated mitochondrial DNA mutation altered the tRNASer(UCN) metabolism and mitochondrial function

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been associated with deafness and their pathophysiology remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the pathogenic mechanism of deafness-associated 7505A > G variant in the mitochondrial tRNA^Ser(UCN). The m.7505A > G variant affected the highly conserved adenine at position 11 (A11), disrupted the highly conserved A11-U24 base-pairing of DHU stem of tRNA^Ser(UCN) and introduced a tertiary base pairing (G11-C56) with the C56 in the TΨC loop. We therefore hypothesized that the m.7505A > G variant altered both structure and function of tRNA^Ser(UCN). We demonstrated that the m.7505A > G variant perturbed the conformation and stability of tRNA^Ser(UCN), as indicated by an increased melting temperature and electrophoretic mobility of the mutated tRNA compared with the wild type molecule. Using the cybrids constructed by transferring mitochondria from the Chinese family into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-less cells, we demonstrated the m.7505A > G variant led to significantly decreased steady-state levels of tRNA^Ser(UCN) in the mutant cybrids, as compared with those of control cybrids. The aberrant tRNA^Ser(UCN) metabolism resulted in the variable decreases in mtDNA-encoded polypeptides in the mutant cybrids. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the m.7505A > G variant decreased the activities of mitochondrial respiratory complexes I, III and IV, markedly diminished mitochondrial ATP levels and membrane potential, and increased the production of reactive oxygen species in the mutant cybrids. These results demonstrated that the m.7505A > G variant affected both structure and function of tRNA^Ser(UCN) and consequently altered mitochondrial function. Our findings highlighted critical insights into the pathophysiology of maternally inherited deafness, which is manifested by the aberrant tRNA metabolism.

Mitochondrial tRNAThr 15909A>G mutation associated with hypertension in a Chinese Han pedigree

Mitochondrial DNA mutations are one of the molecular genetic bases of hypertension. Here, we performed clinical, genetic and mutational evaluation, molecular characterization as well as biochemical analysis of a Chinese Han family with maternally inherited hypertension. The m.15909A > G variant in tRNA^Thr was identified. This mutation abolished a highly conserved base pairing (11U-24A) in the D-stem of tRNA^Thr and affected the structure and function of mitochondrial tRNA^Thr. As a result, the overall levels of mitochondrial translation products was decreased. The reduced mitochondrial protein synthesis resulted in the decrease in the activity of complex, and in turn, the production of ATP decreased and the generation of ROS increased. The m.15909A > G mutation maybe an inherited factor leading to the development of hypertension in this Chinese Han pedigree.

Mutation Analysis of the Mitochondrial tRNA Genes in Iranian Coronary Atherosclerosis Patients

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is a disease that affects large and medium size arteries in the body that underlies coronary heart disease. Several nucleotide changes in mitochondrial tRNA genes have been reported in various diseases. The purpose of the study was to identify hotspot mitochondrial tRNA mutations in atherosclerotic patients.

METHODS

In this case-control study, the variations of ten mitochondrial tRNA genes (about 50%) were investigated in 70 patients from October 2013 and June 2015 suffered from atherosclerosis. The related mitochondrial area was amplified using PCR methid. The mutation analysis was performed by Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). All the positive samples were sequenced.

RESULTS

We found one novel heteroplasmic mutation (m.5725T>G) and three reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously in other diseases including m.5568A>G, m.5711A>G and m.12308A>G.

CONCLUSION

These tRNA mutations can alter their steady state level and affect the structure of tRNA. The role of mitochondrial tRNA mutations in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis could potentially be important for the understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction in coronary atherosclerotic plaque formation.

Novel patient missense mutations in the HSD17B10 gene affect dehydrogenase and mitochondrial tRNA modification functions of the encoded protein

MRPP2 (also known as HSD10/SDR5C1) is a multifunctional protein that harbours both catalytic and non-catalytic functions. The protein belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductases (SDR) family and is involved in the catabolism of isoleucine in vivo and steroid metabolism in vitro. MRPP2 also moonlights in a complex with the MRPP1 (also known as TRMT10C) protein for N1-methylation of purines at position 9 of mitochondrial tRNA, and in a complex with MRPP1 and MRPP3 (also known as PRORP) proteins for 5'-end processing of mitochondrial precursor tRNA. Inherited mutations in the HSD17B10 gene encoding MRPP2 protein lead to a childhood disorder characterised by progressive neurodegeneration, cardiomyopathy or both. Here we report two patients with novel missense mutations in the HSD17B10 gene (c.34G>C and c.526G>A), resulting in the p.V12L and p.V176M substitutions. Val12 and Val176 are highly conserved residues located at different regions of the MRPP2 structure. Recombinant mutant proteins were expressed and characterised biochemically to investigate their effects towards the functions of MRPP2 and associated complexes in vitro. Both mutant proteins showed significant reduction in the dehydrogenase, methyltransferase and tRNA processing activities compared to wildtype, associated with reduced stability for protein with p.V12L, whereas the protein carrying p.V176M showed impaired kinetics and complex formation. This study therefore identified two distinctive molecular mechanisms to explain the biochemical defects for the novel missense patient mutations.

Mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes may be related to insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. Insulin resistance (IR), a central component of this disease, occurs in 30%-40% of women with PCOS. To date, the molecular mechanism underlying PCOS-IR remains largely unknown. Most recently, increasing evidence has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations plays important roles in the pathogenesis of PCOS-IR. To identify the contribution of mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA) mutations in this disease, we screened 80 women with PCOS-IR and 50 healthy control participants for mt-tRNA mutations. After genetic amplification and direct sequencing, we identified nine mt-tRNA mutations that were potentially associated with PCOS-IR: mt-tRNA^Leu(UUR) A3302G and C3275A mutations, mt-tRNA^Gln T4363C and T4395C mutations, mt-tRNA^Ser(UCN) C7492T mutation, mt-tRNA^Asp A7543G mutation, mt-tRNA^Lys A8343G mutation, mt-tRNA^Arg T10454C mutation and mt-tRNA^Glu A14693G mutation. These mutations were localized at evolutionarily conserved nucleotides and altered the secondary structure of mt-tRNAs, thus resulting in failure of mt-tRNA metabolism. Moreover, molecular and biochemical analysis revealed that levels of 8-OHdG, malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species were increased in patients with PCOS-IR carrying these mt-tRNA mutations compared with in healthy control participants, whereas superoxide dismutase levels, mitochondrial copy number, membrane potential and ATP levels were significantly reduced. Taken together, our data indicate that mt-tRNAs are key locations for pathogenic mutations associated with PCOS-IR. Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mt-tRNA mutations may be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS-IR. Thus, our findings provide novel insight into the pathophysiology of this disorder.

Mutational Analysis of Mitochondrial tRNA Genes in Patients with Asthma

BACKGROUND

Mitochondria are autonomous cellular organelles that oversee a variety of functions such as metabolism, energy production, calcium buffering, and cell fate determination. Most recently, mitochondrial dysfunction caused by mitochondrial mutations played important roles in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, the frequency of mitochondrial tRNA mutations in asthma is largely unknown.

METHODS

Overall, 200 patients with asthma and 100 healthy control subjects were recruited between Jan 2015 and Dec 2015 at the Guangming New District People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. We first performed PCR amplification of the mitochondrial tRNA genes and subsequently sequenced the PCR products, and we used the pathogenicity scoring system to evaluate the potential role of these mutations.

RESULTS

Two patients carrying the tRNA^Thr G15927A mutation, three patients carrying the tRNA^Ala T5655C mutation and one patient carrying the tRNA^Glu A14693G mutation, these mutations were absent in healthy controls. Moreover, these mutations located at positions highly conserved between different species, and may cause a failure in mitochondrial tRNA metabolism, consequently result in mitochondrial dysfunction that responsible for asthma. In addition, the pathogenicity scoring system showed that these mutations should be regarded as "pathogenic".

CONCLUSION

Mitochondrial tRNA mutations caused the mitochondrial dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. Thus, this study provided novel insight into the molecular mechanism underlying mitochondrial tRNA mutations in asthma. Moreover, screening for the mitochondrial tRNA mutations was advised for the diagnosis of patients with asthma.

Integrated genomic analysis of mitochondrial RNA processing in human cancers

BACKGROUND

The mitochondrial genome is transcribed as continuous polycistrons of RNA containing multiple genes. As a consequence, post-transcriptional events are critical for the regulation of gene expression and therefore all aspects of mitochondrial function. One particularly important process is the m¹A/m¹G RNA methylation of the ninth position of different mitochondrial tRNAs, which allows efficient processing of mitochondrial mRNAs and protein translation, and de-regulation of genes involved in these processes has been associated with altered mitochondrial function. Although mitochondria play a key role in cancer, the status of mitochondrial RNA processing in tumorigenesis is unknown.

METHODS

We measure and assess mitochondrial RNA processing using integrated genomic analysis of RNA sequencing and genotyping data from 1226 samples across 12 different cancer types. We focus on the levels of m¹A and m¹G RNA methylation in mitochondrial tRNAs in normal and tumor samples and use supervised and unsupervised statistical analysis to compare the levels of these modifications to patient whole genome genotypes, nuclear gene expression, and survival outcomes.

RESULTS

We find significant changes to m¹A and m¹G RNA methylation levels in mitochondrial tRNAs in tumor tissues across all cancers. Pathways of RNA processing are strongly associated with methylation levels in normal tissues (P = 3.27 × 10^-31), yet these associations are lost in tumors. Furthermore, we report 18 gene-by-disease-state interactions where altered RNA methylation levels occur under cancer status conditional on genotype, implicating genes associated with mitochondrial function or cancer (e.g., CACNA2D2, LMO2, and FLT3) and suggesting that nuclear genetic variation can potentially modulate an individual's ability to maintain unaltered rates of mitochondrial RNA processing under cancer status. Finally, we report a significant association between the magnitude of methylation level changes in tumors and patient survival outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

We report widespread variation of mitochondrial RNA processing between normal and tumor tissues across all cancer types investigated and show that these alterations are likely modulated by patient genotype and may impact patient survival outcomes. These results highlight the potential clinical relevance of altered mitochondrial RNA processing and provide broad new insights into the importance and complexity of these events in cancer.

In vitro substrate specificities of 3'-5' polymerases correlate with biological outcomes of tRNA 5'-editing reactions

Protozoan mitochondrial tRNAs (mt-tRNAs) are repaired by a process known as 5'-editing. Mt-tRNA sequencing revealed organism-specific patterns of editing G-U base pairs, wherein some species remove G-U base pairs during 5'-editing, while others retain G-U pairs in the edited tRNA. We tested whether 3'-5' polymerases that catalyze the repair step of 5'-editing exhibit organism-specific preferences that explain the treatment of G-U base pairs. Biochemical and kinetic approaches revealed that a 3'-5' polymerase from Acanthamoeba castellanii tolerates G-U wobble pairs in editing substrates much more readily than several other enzymes, consistent with its biological pattern of editing.

A novel mitochondrial DNA m.7507A>G mutation is only pathogenic at high levels of heteroplasmy

We present a Dutch family with a novel disease-causing mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(UCN)) gene, m.7507A>G. The index patient died during the neonatal period due to cardio-respiratory failure and fatal lactic acidosis. A second patient, his cousin, has severe hearing loss necessitating cochlear implants and progressive exercise intolerance. Laboratory investigations of both patients revealed combined deficiencies of the enzyme complexes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in several tissues. Reduced levels of fully assembled complexes I and IV in fibroblasts by BN-PAGE associated with (near) homoplasmic levels of the m.7507A>G mutation in several tissues and a severe reduction in the steady-state level of mt-tRNA(Ser(UCN)) in fibroblasts were observed. The novel mitochondrial DNA mutation was shown to segregate with disease; several healthy maternal family members showed high heteroplasmy levels (up to 76 ± 4% in blood and 68 ± 4% in fibroblasts) which did not lead to any alterations in the activities of the enzyme complexes of the respiratory chain in fibroblasts or clinical signs and symptoms. We hereby conclude that the m.7507A>G mutation causes a heterogeneous clinical phenotype and is only pathogenic at very high levels of mtDNA heteroplasmy.

Mitochondrial tRNA cleavage by tRNA-targeting ribonuclease causes mitochondrial dysfunction observed in mitochondrial disease

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a genome possessed by mitochondria. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated during aerobic respiration in mitochondria, mtDNA is commonly exposed to the risk of DNA damage. Mitochondrial disease is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, and mutations or deletions on mitochondrial tRNA (mt tRNA) genes are often observed in mtDNA of patients with the disease. Hence, the correlation between mt tRNA activity and mitochondrial dysfunction has been assessed. Then, cybrid cells, which are constructed by the fusion of an enucleated cell harboring altered mtDNA with a ρ(0) cell, have long been used for the analysis due to difficulty in mtDNA manipulation. Here, we propose a new method that involves mt tRNA cleavage by a bacterial tRNA-specific ribonuclease. The ribonuclease tagged with a mitochondrial-targeting sequence (MTS) was successfully translocated to the mitochondrial matrix. Additionally, mt tRNA cleavage, which resulted in the decrease of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity, was observed.

The pathogenicity scoring system for mitochondrial tRNA mutations revisited

Confirming the pathogenicity of mitochondrial tRNA point mutations is one of the classical challenges in the field of mitochondrial medicine. In addition to genetic and functional studies, the evaluation of a genetic change using a pathogenicity scoring system is extremely useful to discriminate between disease-causing mutations from neutral polymorphisms. The pathogenicity scoring system is very robust for confirming pathogenicity, especially of mutations that show impaired activity in functional studies. However, mutations giving normal results using the same functional approaches are disregarded, and this compromises the power of the system to rule out pathogenicity. We propose to include a new criterion in the pathogenicity scoring systems regarding mutations which fail to show any mitochondrial defect in functional studies. To evaluate this proposal we characterized two mutations, m.8296A>G and m.8347A>G, in the mitochondrial tRNA^Lys gene (MT-TK) using trans-mitochondrial cybrid analysis. m.8347A>G mutation severely impairs oxidative phosphorylation, suggesting that it is highly pathogenic. By contrast, the behavior of cybrids homoplasmic for the m.8296A>G mutation is similar to cybrids containing wild-type mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The results indicate that including not only positive but also negative outcomes of functional studies in the scoring system is critical for facilitating the diagnosis of this complex group of diseases.

No association between mitochondrial tRNA(Val) T1658C mutation and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO)

Mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes are one of the most important causes of mitochondrial diseases. Recently, a novel mt-tRNA(Val) T1658C mutation has been reported to be associated with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO). To test this association, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of T1658C mutation, moreover, we used the bioinformatic tool to predict the thermodynamic change of tRNA(Val) with and without this mutation. Surprisingly, T1658C mutation was not evolutionary conserved and had little effect on tRNA(Val) folding. These data indicated that T1658C mutation should still be categorized as a polymorphism.