Mitochondrial myopathy and ophthalmoplegia in a sporadic patient with the 5698G-->A mitochondrial DNA mutation

We describe a second patient carrying the 5698G→A transition in the mitochondrial DNA gene encoding tRNA^Asn, who has an apparently isolated mitochondrial myopathy with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia. A muscle biopsy showed the presence of ragged-red and COX-negative fibres. Analysis of the mutation load on single muscle fibres showed significant segregation of the 5698G→A with COX-depleted fibres. These results indicate that the 5698G→A is pathogenic.     

Molecular phylogeny of Diabrotica beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) inferred from analysis of combined mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences

The phylogenetic relationships of thirteen Diabrotica (representing virgifera and fucata species groups) and two outgroup Acalymma beetle species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were inferred from the phylogenetic analysis of a combined data set of 1323 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the entire second internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA of 362 characters. Species investigated were D. adelpha, D. balteata, D. barberi, D. cristata, D. lemniscata, D. longicornis, D. porracea, D. speciosa, D. undecimpunctata howardi, D. u. undecimpunctata, D. virgifera virgifera, D. v. zeae, D. viridula, and outgroup A. blandulum and A. vittatum. Maximum parsimony (MP), minimum evolution (ME), and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses of combined COI and ITS-2 sequences clearly place species into their traditional morphological species groups with MP and ME analyses resulting in identical topologies. Results generally confer with a prior work based on allozyme data, but within the virgifera species group, D. barberi and D. longicornis strongly resolve as sister taxa as well as monophyletic with the neotropical species, D. viridula, D. cristata and D. lemniscata also resolve as sister taxa. Both relationships are not in congruence with the prior allozyme-based hypothesis. Within the fucata species group, D. speciosa and D. balteata resolve as sister taxa. Results also strongly supported the D. virgifera and D. undecimpunctata subspecies complexes. Our proposed phylogeny provides some insight into current hypotheses regarding distribution status and evolution of various life history traits for Diabrotica.     

Adult Leigh syndrome with mitochondrial DNA mutation at 8993

Adult onset Leigh syndrome with a nucleotide (nt) 8993 mutation in mitochondrial (mt) DNA is reported. A 43-year-old woman with a 6-year-history of insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus developed muscular weakness, intractable nausea and vomiting, and anemia. These were followed vertigo, blindness, and deafness with nystagmus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed abnormal high intensities in the bilateral medial regions of the thalamus and periaqueductal gray matters. Autopsy disclosed well-demarcated necrotizing lesions with prominent capillaries in the areas detected by MRI, which were sufficiently diagnostic for Leigh syndrome. MtDNA analysis performed on DNAs extracted from formalin-fixed tissues including liver, heart, brain, muscle, kidney and pancreas showed a T→G mutation at nt 8993. This is the first case of adult Leigh syndrome demonstrating on mtDNA mutations. Received: 24 August 1998 / Revised, accepted: 21 October 1998     

Lack of association between single polymorphic variants of the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase 3, and 4L (MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L) and male infertility

Male infertility is a multifactorial condition associated with different genetic abnormalities in at least 15%–30% of cases. The purpose of this study was to identify suspected correlations between infertility and polymorphisms in mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunits 3 and 4L (MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L) in subfertile male spermatozoa. Sanger sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA target genes was performed on 68 subfertile and 44 fertile males. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MT-ND3 (rs2853826, rs28435660, rs193302927, rs28358278, rs41467651, rs3899188, rs28358277 and rs28673954) and seven SNPs in MT-ND4L (rs28358280, rs28358281, rs28358279, rs2853487, rs2853488, rs193302933 and rs28532881) were detected and genotyped. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the study population have shown a lack of statistically significant association between MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L SNPs and male infertility. However, no statistically significant association was found between the asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and oligoteratozoospermia subgroups of subfertile males. However, rs28358278 genotype of the MT-ND3 gene was reported in the subfertile group but not in the fertile group, which implies a possible role of this SNP in male infertility. In conclusion, the investigated polymorphic variants in the MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L genes did not show any significant association with the occurrence of male infertility. Further studies are required to evaluate these findings. Moreover, the subfertile individuals who exhibit a polymorphism at rs28358278 require further monitoring and evaluation.     

The influence of clan structure on the genetic variation in a single Ghanaian village

Socioeconomic and cultural factors are thought to have an important role in influencing human population genetic structure. To explain such population structure differences, most studies analyse genetic differences among widely dispersed human populations. In contrast, we have studied the genetic structure of an ethnic group occupying a single village in north-eastern Ghana. We found a markedly skewed male population substructure because of an almost complete lack of male gene flow among Bimoba clans in this village. We also observed a deep male substructure within one of the clans in this village. Among all males, we observed only three Y-single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplogroups: E1b1a*-M2, E1b1a7a*-U174 and E1b1a8a*-U209, P277, P278. In contrast to the marked Y-chromosomal substructure, mitochondrial DNA HVS-1 sequence variation and autosomal short-tandem repeats variation patterns indicate high genetic diversities and a virtually random female-mediated gene flow among clans. On the extreme micro-geographical scale of this single Bimoba village, correspondence between the Y-chromosome lineages and clan membership could be due to the combined effects of the strict patrilocal and patrilineal structure. If translated to larger geographic scales, our results would imply that the extent of variation in uniparentally inherited genetic markers, which are typically associated with historical migration on a continental scale, could equally likely be the result of many small and different cumulative effects of social factors such as clan membership that act at a local scale. Such local scale effects should therefore be considered in genetic studies, especially those that use uniparental markers, before making inferences about human history at large.     

Recombination between parental mitochondrial DNA following protoplast fusion can occur in a region which normally does not undergo intragenomic recombination in parental plants

Summary A novel restriction fragment, which was not present in either parent's mitochondrial DNA, was cloned from the mitochondrial genome of a somatic hybrid Petunia line. This fragment resulted from interspecific recombination between homologous mitochondrial DNA regions of the parental plants, Petunia line 3704 and line 3688. Hybridization with a cloned Petunia atp9 gene revealed that the regions involved in recombination carry atp9 coding sequences. Intragenomic recombination within the parental mitochondrial genomes was not detected between the atp9 regions which recombined following protoplast fusion.     

裂褶菌胞外多糖对D-半乳糖致衰老小鼠学习记忆及代谢产物的影响

目的研究裂褶菌(Schizophyllum commne Fr)胞外多糖(SPG)对D-半乳糖致衰老小鼠各项指标的影响。方法建立D-半乳糖衰老小鼠模型,以其学习记忆成绩,免疫器官指数,血清、肝、脑中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力、丙二醛(MDA)含量,脑中单胺氧化酶(MAO)活力,肝、脑细胞线粒体DNA含量为指标,对SPG的抗衰老作用进行研究。结果与模型组比较,SPG可恢复D-半乳糖致衰老小鼠的学习记忆能力;拮抗免疫器官萎缩;提高其血清、肝和脑中SOD活性;减少MDA在体内积累;抑制脑中MAO活性;降低肝、脑细胞线粒体DNA相对含量。最适剂量为200 mg.kg-1。结论高剂量SPG具有明显抗衰老作用(P<0.01),且具有靶向性,对血清和肝组织的抗衰老作用较强,对大脑的改善作用不如前者。     

DNA条形码技术在福建省蝇类鉴定中的应用

目的探讨DNA条形码技术应用于福建省蝇类鉴定的可行性,并初步建立福建省蝇类的基因数据库。方法采集自福建省部分地区的4科13属19种64个蝇类新鲜标本,提取基因组DNA进行PCR扩增,序列测序,并进行同源性对比、进化距离分析,构建系统进化树。结果基因序列分析结果显示,上述蝇类mt DNA上细胞色素C氧化酶亚基Ⅰ基因序列的种内进化分歧均数在0～3.32%之间;除铜绿蝇与丝光绿蝇进化分歧均数为0.69%外,其余种间进化分歧均数在5.26%～18.30%之间;系统进化树分析显示,相同种能够很好聚集在一起,Bootstrap检验可信度均达96%以上。结论DNA条形码技术可用于福建省一些常见蝇类的鉴定,作为形态学鉴定的补充手段。