Mutations in the mitochondrial tRNA Ser(AGY) gene are associated with deafness, retinal degeneration, myopathy and epilepsy.

Although over 200 pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations have been reported to date, determining the genetic aetiology of many cases of mitochondrial disease is still not straightforward. Here, we describe the investigations undertaken to uncover the underlying molecular defect(s) in two unrelated Caucasian patients with suspected mtDNA disease, who presented with similar symptoms of myopathy, deafness, neurodevelopmental delay, epilepsy, marked fatigue and, in one case, retinal degeneration. Histochemical and biochemical evidence of mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency was observed in the patient muscle biopsies and both patients were discovered to harbour a novel heteroplasmic mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA)(Ser(AGY)) (MTTS2) mutation (m.

The molecular basis for tissue specificity of the oxidative phosphorylation deficiencies in patients with mutations in the mitochondrial translation factor EFG1.

Defects in mitochondrial translation are associated with a remarkable, but unexplained diversity of clinical phenotypes. Here we have investigated the molecular basis for tissue specificity in patients with a fatal hepatopathy due to mutations in the mitochondrial translation elongation factor EFG1. Blue-native gel electrophoresis revealed unique, tissue-specific patterns in the nature and severity of the defect.

A molecular chaperone for mitochondrial complex I assembly is mutated in a progressive encephalopathy.

NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) deficiency is a common cause of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation disease. It is associated with a wide range of clinical phenotypes in infants, including Leigh syndrome, cardiomyopathy, and encephalomyopathy. In at least half of patients, enzyme deficiency results from a failure to assemble the holoenzyme complex; however, the molecular chaperones required for assembly of the mammalian enzyme remain unknown.

Contrasting phenotypes in three patients with novel mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes.

We studied three patients, each harboring a novel mutation at a highly conserved position in a different mitochondrial tRNA gene. The mutation in patient 1 (T5543C) was associated with isolated mitochondrial myopathy, and occurred in the anticodon loop of tRNA(Trp). In patient 2, with mitochondrial myopathy and marked retinopathy, the mutation (G14710A) resulted in an anticodon swap (Glu to Lys) in tRNA(Glu).

Identification and characterization of a common set of complex I assembly intermediates in mitochondria from patients with complex I deficiency.

Deficiencies in the activity of complex I (NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase) are an important cause of human mitochondrial disease. Complex I is composed of at least 46 structural subunits that are encoded in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Enzyme deficiency can result from either impaired catalytic efficiency or an inability to assemble the holoenzyme complex; however, the assembly process remains poorly understood.