AI Article Synopsis

  • Mutations in the DARS2 gene, which codes for mitochondrial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase, lead to Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL).
  • In patient-derived fibroblasts, there was a noticeable decrease in the production of proteins needed for the mitochondrial respiratory chain that are encoded by mitochondrial DNA, whereas those from nuclear DNA remained unaffected.
  • Mitochondrial function was significantly impaired in the patient, as shown by reduced oxygen consumption and increased fragmentation of mitochondria, emphasizing the vital role of mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in maintaining healthy mitochondrial activities.

Article Abstract

Several inherited human diseases have been linked to mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (mtARSs). Leukoencephalopathy with brainstem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL) is a leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the DARS2 gene which encodes mitochondrial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase. As mitochondrial ARSs are key components of the mitochondrial translation apparatus, we investigated the effects of DARS2 mutations on mitochondrial functions and mitochondrial morphology in an LBSL patient. In fibroblasts from the patient with LBSL, biosynthesis of respiratory chain complex proteins encoded by mitochondrial DNA was decreased, while those encoded by nuclear DNA were not. Cellular oxygen consumption rates and respiratory control ratio were decreased in the LBSL patient; in addition, fragmentation of mitochondria was increased, while their tubular elongation and interconnectivity were decreased. Taken together, these findings suggest that DARS2 mutations impair translations of mitochondrial DNA-encoded respiratory chain complex proteins, consequently causing dysfunction of cellular respiration and impediment of mitochondrial dynamics, which highlights the role of mtARSs in the maintenance of normal mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6822708PMC
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0224173PLOS

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