Self-splicing activity of the mitochondrial group-I introns from Aspergillus nidulans and related introns from other species

The mitochondrial genome of Aspergillus nidulans contains several group-I introns. Each one has been assayed for its ability to self-splice in vitro in the absence of proteins. The intron from the apocytochrome b gene is unusual among subgroup IB4 introns in being able to self-splice, unlike a similar intron from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The first intron in the cytochrome oxidase subunit-1 gene self-splices but only correctly completes the first step of splicing; cryptic 3′ splice-sites are recognized instead and these are also used at a low frequency in vivo. The highly homologous intron from Podospora anserina completes both steps in vitro. The remaining introns do not self-splice. The correlation between subgroup category, the likely presence of specific tertiary interactions, and self-splicing activity is discussed. Received: 16 May / 25 August 1997     

Mitochondrial genome of the dimorphic zygomycete Mucor racemosus

Mitochondria were isolated from the dimorphic zygomycete Mucor racemosus by differential centrifugation. DNA from the organelles was purified by cesium chloride-ethidium bromide isopycnic centrifugation. Examination of the mitochondrial DNA by electron microscopy revealed a circular chromosome approximately 63.8 kbp in circumference. The chromosome was digested with restriction endonucleases and the resulting DNA fragments were separated by agarose-gel electrophoresis. Electrophoretic mobilities and stoichiometry of the fragments indicated a mixed population of mtDNA molecules each with a size of about 63.4 kbp. Physical maps were constructed from analyses of fragments generated in single and double restriction digests and from the hybridization of fragments to probes for the large and small mitochondrial rRNA genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Mucor mitochondrial chromosome was found to exist in the form of two flip-flop isomers with inverted repeat sequences encoding both rRNA genes.     

A concordance of nucleotide substitutions in the first and second hypervariable segments of the human mtDNA control region

A new and easily accessible concordance of nucleotide substitutions in the hypervariable segments of the human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region has been constructed. The concordance indexes all population-specific mtDNA sequences in a standardized format. The first edition of the concordance includes 1,440 sequences representing 762 mtDNA types from over 65 populations for hypervariable region 1, and 520 sequences representing 260 mtDNA types from over 26 populations for hypervariable region 2. Investigators are invited to submit new sequences to the database, and details for doing so are given in the text.     

Differing time courses between Δlactate and mitochondrial respiration during coronary occlusion and after reperfusion in canine hearts

Summary The present study was designed to clarify whether or not a difference between arterial and venous lactate (lactate) levels is useful for evaluation of mitochondrial function in ischemia-reperfused myocardium. In the first experiment, 12 dogs were divided into 2 groups: 10-min occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) followed by 10-min reperfusion, or 30-min occlusion followed by 40-min reperfusion, were performed. The lactate levels in the femoral artery and the great cardiac vein were measured enzymatically. Lactate was reversed immediately after occlusion. Ten min and 20 min were required for the recovery of lactate in the 10-min-occlusion with 10-min-reperfusion, and 30-min-occlusion with 40-min-reperfusion groups, respectively. In the second experiment, 36 dogs were divided into 6 groups: 10-min occlusion of LAD; 10-min occlusion with 10-min reperfusion; 30-min occlusion; and 30-min occlusion with 10-, 20-, or 40-min reperfusion were performed. Mitochondria from normal and occluded or reperfused areas were prepared, and the respiratory function of the mitochondria was measured polarographically. No significant decreases in the mitochondrial function were observed in the 10-min-occlusion, and 10-min-occlusion with 10-min-reperfusion groups. On the other hand, respiratory function of mitochondria was impaired by 30-min occlusion and was not improved by 10- or 20-min reperfusion. Significant recovery in the mitochondrial function was observed after 40-min reperfusion. That is, differing recovery time courses between lactate and the mitochondrial function were observed.     

MITOCHONDRIAL MYOPATHY AND MITOCHONDRIAL ENCEPHALOMYOPATHY

This paper is the first report of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and mitochondrial myopathy diagnosed in China. It includes l case of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidemia and stroke-Iike episodes (MELAS), 5 cases of mitochondrial myopathy with skeletal muscles predominantly involved, and 2 cases of mitochondrial myopathy with external ocular muscles predominantly involved. The diagnosis was confirmed by muscle biopsies which revealed the "ragged-red-fiber" CRRF) in modified Gomori trichrome CMGT) stain, accumulation of lipie droplets in oil-red-O stain in frozen sections, and aggregates of abnormal mitochondria with complex paracrystalline inclusions and distorted cristae and osmiophilic dense bodies in their matrix in electron microscopy.     

核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3炎症小体在脑卒中后认知障碍中的研究进展

脑卒中后认知障碍(PSCI)是脑卒中患者常见的并发症,严重影响患者的生活质量。目前,PSCI在临床治疗中尚未发现有效的针对性治疗措施。大量研究证实核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体蛋白3(NLRP3)炎症小体的活化在PSCI中起关键作用,且对其进行的许多抑制性治疗显示出了改善认知障碍的功效。为此,本文总结了NLRP3炎症小体的活化和影响因素及其与PSCI的关系,发现在PSCI的细胞和动物模型中,针对NLRP3或其炎症小体成分的抑制措施可以减轻炎性反应和相应的病理特征,从而促进其认知功能的恢复,因此,靶向NLRP3炎症小体可能是PSCI治疗的新趋势。然而到目前为止,尽管许多药物和治疗措施已成功鉴定出能够抑制NLRP3炎症小体的活化,但其在临床中的治疗效果和安全性仍有待进一步验证。     

鄂西苗族氨基糖甙类抗生素致聋患者的mtDNA1555位点突变研究

目的为探讨遗传因素在鄂西苗族氨基糖甙类抗生素致聋(AAID)发生中的作用,从分子水平研究该病的发病机制.方法对鄂西苗族部分家系及医学散发病例通过问卷调查和进行听力测试,确诊为AAID的82名患者,采外周血作PCR-RFLP分析,对照组为正常苗族50名.结果82名患者中27例具有mtDNA1555A→G异质性突变,10例为均质性突变,该位点突变率为45.1%,其中异质性突变占72,9%,而对照组均无此突变.结论mtDNA1555A→G突变是鄂西苗族个体对氨基糖甙类抗生素易感致聋的分子基础,异质性突变在苗族AAID中发生率较高.     

Conserved tRNA gene cluster in starfish mitochondrial DNA

Summary Partial sequencing of mtDNA from four long-diverged species of starfish reveals the existence of a conserved cluster of 13 tRNA genes, organized in a manner similar to that of the tRNA cluster of sea urchin mtDNA, but located at a position distant from the presumed replication origin. These findings suggest that a clustered organization of tRNA genes may have been present in the ancestral mitochondrial genome, and raise the possibility that tRNAs may have catalyzed the dispersal rather than the accumulation of the genes which encode them.     

Electron microscopic investigation of mitochondrial DNA fromChenopodium album (L.)

DNA molecules from mitochondria of whole plants and a suspension culture ofChenopodium album were prepared, by a gentle method, for analysis by electron microscopy. Mitochondrial (mt) DNA preparations from both sources contained mostly linear molecules of variable sizes (with the majority of molecules ranging from 40 to 160 kb). Open circular molecules with contour lengths corresponding to 0.3–183 kb represented 23–26% of all mtDNA molecules in the preparations from the suspension culture and 13–15% in the preparations from whole plants. More than 90% of the circular DNA was smaller than 30 kb. Virtually no size classes of the mtDNA molecules could be identified, and circular or linear molecules of the genome size (about 270 kb) were not observed. In contrast, plastid (pt) DNA preparations from the suspension culture contained linear and circular molecules falling into size classes corresponding to monomers, dimers and trimers of the chromosome. About 23% of the ptDNA molecules were circular. DNA preparations from mitochondria contained a higher percentage of more complex molecules (rosette-like structures, catenate-like molecules) than preparations of ptDNA. Sigma-like molecules (putative intermediates of rollingcircle replication) were observed in mtDNA preparations from the suspension culture (18% of the circles), and in much lower amount (1%) in preparations from whole plants. The results are compared with data obtained previously by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and discussed in relation to the structural organization and replication of the mt genome of higher plants.     

线粒体脑肌病伴乳酸血症和卒中样发作综合征的临床特征及遗传学研究

目的探讨线粒体脑肌病伴乳酸血症和卒中样发作（MELAS）综合征临床与分子遗传学特征,寻找MELAS线粒体DNA（mtDNA）A3243G点突变比例与临床特征的关联性。方法对2001年1月至2008年1月在首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院神经内科住院和门诊临床疑似线粒体脑肌病的患儿,行外周血白细胞mtDNA A3243G点突变筛查、血乳酸检测和神经影像学等检查。A3243G点突变阳性病例中选取符合MELAS临床疑似诊断标准的患儿（突变阳性组）,对其家系进行调查,采集家族成员血进行mtDNA A3243G点突变筛查;A3243G点突变阴性病例中选取符合MELAS临床疑似诊断标准的患儿行肌肉病理活检和肌肉A3243G点突变筛查（突变阴性组）。分析比较两组的临床资料及MELAS遗传学特征。结果研究期间共有272例疑似线粒体脑肌病的患儿进行了外周血白细胞A3243G点突变的筛查。A3243G点突变的20例阳性标本中,突变均为异胞质性（heteroplasmy）,18例符合MELAS的临床疑似诊断标准。血细胞中突变型mtDNA的比例为9.0%-50.0%,其中4例同时在肌肉组织检测到相同突变,突变比例为42.4%-64.8%。临床症状以惊厥、乏力、智力进行性倒退、发热、呕吐、视力障碍和失语为主,身材矮小和体毛增多为主要体征,13例合并癫,血乳酸均升高,头颅CT/MRI显示双侧对称性苍白球钙化和脑梗死信号。A3243G点突变筛查阴性标本中有4例临床符合MELAS临床疑似诊断标准,肌肉病理可见破碎红边纤维,肌肉A3243G点突变筛查阴性。14个家庭中的37名家庭成员采集了外周血进行mtDNA A3243G点突变筛查,突变阳性组中患儿母亲5名检测到A3243G点突变,突变比例分别为3.0%,5.0%,11.8%,21.3%和26.9%,同胞兄弟4名检测到A3243G突变,突变比例分别为19.3%、33.3%,37.5%和41.5%,均无临床症状,其他成员未检测到突变。本研究A3243G点突变比例与发病年龄和就诊年龄呈负相关趋势,与病程未?