Mitochondrial DNA mutations, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in mammalian aging

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) accumulate in tissues of mammalian species and have been hypothesized to contribute to aging. We show that mice expressing a proofreading-deficient version of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase g (POLG) accumulate mtDNA mutations and display features of accelerated aging. Accumulation of mtDNA mutations was not associated with increased markers of oxidative stress or a defect in cellular proliferation, but was correlated with the induction of apoptotic markers, particularly in tissues characterized by rapid cellular turnover. The levels of apoptotic markers were also found to increase during aging in normal mice. Thus, accumulation of mtDNA mutations that promote apoptosis may be a central mechanism driving mammalian aging.     

ROS-generating mitochondrial DNA mutations can regulate tumor cell metastasis

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) occur at high frequency in human tumors, but whether these mutations alter tumor cell behavior has been unclear. We used cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) technology to replace the endogenous mtDNA in a mouse tumor cell line that was poorly metastatic with mtDNA from a cell line that was highly metastatic, and vice versa. Using assays of metastasis in mice, we found that the recipient tumor cells acquired the metastatic potential of the transferred mtDNA. The mtDNA conferring high metastatic potential contained G13997A and 13885insC mutations in the gene encoding NADH (reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) dehydrogenase subunit 6 (ND6). These mutations produced a deficiency in respiratory complex I activity and were associated with overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pretreatment of the highly metastatic tumor cells with ROS scavengers suppressed their metastatic potential in mice. These results indicate that mtDNA mutations can contribute to tumor progression by enhancing the metastatic potential of tumor cells.     

A mouse model of mitochondrial disease reveals germline selection against severe mtDNA mutations

The majority of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations that cause human disease are mild to moderately deleterious, yet many random mtDNA mutations would be expected to be severe. To determine the fate of the more severe mtDNA mutations, we introduced mtDNAs containing two mutations that affect oxidative phosphorylation into the female mouse germ line. The severe ND6 mutation was selectively eliminated during oogenesis within four generations, whereas the milder COI mutation was retained throughout multiple generations even though the offspring consistently developed mitochondrial myopathy and cardiomyopathy. Thus, severe mtDNA mutations appear to be selectively eliminated from the female germ line, thereby minimizing their impact on population fitness.     

Effects of purifying and adaptive selection on regional variation in human mtDNA

A phylogenetic analysis of 1125 global human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences permitted positioning of all nucleotide substitutions according to their order of occurrence. The relative frequency and amino acid conservation of internal branch replacement mutations was found to increase from tropical Africa to temperate Europe and arctic northeastern Siberia. Particularly highly conserved amino acid substitutions were found at the roots of multiple mtDNA lineages from higher latitudes. These same lineages correlate with increased propensity for energy deficiency diseases as well as longevity. Thus, specific mtDNA replacement mutations permitted our ancestors to adapt to more northern climates, and these same variants are influencing our health today.     

Role of adenine nucleotide translocator 1 in mtDNA maintenance

Autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia is a rare human disease that shows a Mendelian inheritance pattern, but is characterized by large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions. We have identified two heterozygous missense mutations in the nuclear gene encoding the heart/skeletal muscle isoform of the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT1) in five families and one sporadic patient. The familial mutation substitutes a proline for a highly conserved alanine at position 114 in the ANT1 protein. The analogous mutation in yeast caused a respiratory defect. These results indicate that ANT has a role in mtDNA maintenance and that a mitochondrial disease can be caused by a dominant mechanism.     

适合于基因组测序的红麻高纯度线粒体DNA提取

采用红麻黄化苗为试材,结合密度梯度离心和差速离心的方法提取线粒体DNA(mtDNA)以满足测序要求.结果表明,蔗糖密度梯度离心法比Percoll密度梯度离心法更适合于红麻线粒体的分离.分离后的线粒体经DNaseI消化核DNA,并采用Jannus绿检测线粒体的完整性,SDS和蛋白酶K裂解线粒体,并用酚/氯仿抽提除去蛋白,...     

Manipulating the metazoan mitochondrial genome with targeted restriction enzymes

High copy number and random segregation confound genetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome. We developed an efficient selection for heritable mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations in Drosophila, thereby enhancing a metazoan model for study of mitochondrial genetics and mutations causing human mitochondrial disease. Targeting a restriction enzyme to mitochondria in the germline compromised fertility, but escaper progeny carried homoplasmic mtDNA mutations lacking the cleavage site. Among mutations eliminating a site in the cytochrome c oxidase gene, mt:CoI(A302T) was healthy, mt:CoI(R301L) was male sterile but otherwise healthy, and mt:CoI(R301S) exhibited a wide range of defects, including growth retardation, neurodegeneration, muscular atrophy, male sterility, and reduced life span. Thus, germline expression of mitochondrial restriction enzymes creates a powerful selection and has allowed direct isolation of mitochondrial mutants in a metazoan.     

Method for Isolating Mitochondrial DNA from Etiolated Tissue of Cabbage

Isolation of high-quality mitochondrial DNA（mtDNA） is an important premise for researching molecular mechanisms in cytoplasmic male sterility of cabbage（Brassica oleracea L.var.capitata）. An efficient protocol for separation and purification of mitochondria and extraction of mitochondrial DNA（mtDNA） from etiolated tissues of cabbage was developed. We took a method combined mannitol density gradient with differential centrifugation, selected appropriate rotational speed, extended DNase I treating time and changed mitochondria cracking condition. The results showed that the extracted mitochondria in this protocol had complete structure, appeared to ellipsoid and had not been contaminated with other impurities under the Jannus Green B staining. The isolated mitochondrial DNA had high purity and yield through detecting the optical density, nuclear specific primer PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. The results indicated that mitochondrial DNA extracted by this protocol had high quality and enabled to be used in futher genetic studies.     

Primary Analysis on mtDNA D-loop Hypervariable Region in Eutamias sibiricus

This study analyzed the mitochondrial DNA D-loop hypervariable region 601 bp sequence in 12 Eutamias sibiricus from Heilongjiang area. The result showed that the average contents of A, T, G and C were 33.2%, 30.5%, 11.8% and 24.5% respectively, the A＋T content （63.7%） was obviously higher than the G＋C content （36.3%）. Thirty-six, mutation （approximately 6.0%） sites were found and 9 haplotypes were defined. The mutations types, including transition, transversion and deletion were all found in the detected mtDNA D-loop regions, most of which was transition. The average nucleotide mutational ratio was 1.22%. The nucleotide mutation sites affected the restriction site appearance or disappearance of the restriction site. The research on mtDNA D-loop is focused on the domestic animals and there is no report on Eutamias sibiricus, This study analyzed the mitochondrial DNA D-loop hypervariable in Eutamias sibiricus so as to provide some useful informations for related research in the future.     

小白菜线粒体DNA提取体系的建立

为了建立小白菜线粒体DNA(mtDNA)提取体系,以小白菜黄化苗为材料,研究了不同提取方法、材料选择等因素对线粒体DNA提取的影响。结果表明,经冰浴研磨小白菜黄化苗,通过简易的密度梯度离心技术快速抽提大量高纯度的线粒体,蛋白酶K裂解线粒体及有机溶剂抽提去除蛋白质,可获得纯度较高的mtDNA,能用于RAPD分析。     

黔北一新鱼种遵义小钝吻鮠线粒体DNA的分离纯化

用差速离心法和改进的碱裂解法分离纯化遵义小钝吻鮠线粒体DNA,紫外检测其OD260/OD280在1.78～1.85,并计算出该鱼肝组织线粒体DNA的含量为0.613μg/g。纯化样品经紫外分析仪在200～290 nm波长范围内扫描,呈现典型的DNA吸收峰,其最大吸收峰在259～260 nm。以λDNA/HindⅢ的完全酶切片段作为相对分子量标准,利用电泳迁移率与分子量的对数的线性关系,由已知片段大小推算出遵义小钝吻鮠mtDNA分子大小为(15.44±0.16)kb。     

Widespread origins of domestic horse lineages

Domestication entails control of wild species and is generally regarded as a complex process confined to a restricted area and culture. Previous DNA sequence analyses of several domestic species have suggested only a limited number of origination events. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences of 191 domestic horses and found a high diversity of matrilines. Sequence analysis of equids from archaeological sites and late Pleistocene deposits showed that this diversity was not due to an accelerated mutation rate or an ancient domestication event. Consequently, high mtDNA sequence diversity of horses implies an unprecedented and widespread integration of matrilines and an extensive utilization and taming of wild horses. However, genetic variation at nuclear markers is partitioned among horse breeds and may reflect sex-biased dispersal and breeding.     

辣椒不育系和保持系线粒体差异基因获得及SNP分析

通过对辣椒细胞质雄性不育(CMS)系及其相应保持系育性相关基因的分析,检寻SNP位点,旨在探索其与辣椒细胞质雄性不育性的关系。以高盐-蛋白酶K法提取线粒体DNA,采用AFLP技术分析了辣椒不育系和保持系的mtDNA的差异,从128对引物扩增产物中发现了不育系和保持系的差异片段,经回收、克隆获得不育系特异片段CanLE长度140 bp,保持系特异片段CanLB长度126 bp。利用Blast对其进行序列比对分析,其中CanLE与细胞色素P450家族蛋白同源,CanLB和赖氨酰-tRNA合成酶同源。进一步分别克隆并获得了不育系和保持系辣椒细胞色素P450全长,序列分析发现,两者存在单核苷酸多态性(SNP),其中5个碱基差异,3个为同义突变,2个氨基酸发生改变。     

猫科动物线粒体DNA研究进展

综述了线粒体DNA在猫科动物的系统进化关系与分类地位、物种的遗传多样性、群体遗传结构以及物种识别等方面的研究现状，并提出今后应对野生猫科物种的mtDNA全基因组测序，以及对某些与mtDNA基因相关的疾病等进行深入研究。     

中国飞蝗线粒体COI基因片段的扩增

对中国飞蝗各亚种线粒体DNA的COI基因片段进行了扩增并测序。结果表明,扩增产物为单一带,大小约为1.3kb。对此扩增产物序列分析证明所扩增的COI基因序列是一个含混不清的序列,说明在中国飞蝗不同亚种的基因组DNA中存在线粒体的假基因序列,因此以飞蝗基因组DNA为模板PCR扩出的mtDNA COI基因片段不适宜用作分析飞蝗种群遗传和系统发育的分子标记。     

利川马mtDNA Cytb基因遗传多态性分析

利用PCR和生物信息技术,对22匹利川马线粒体DNA Cytb基因全序列的遗传多态性及系统进化进行了分析.结果发现,利川马的Crtb基因全序列为1140 bp,并且检测到9种单倍型和26个核苷酸多态位点,约占所测核苷酸总长的0.53%.利川马mtDNA Cytb基因单倍型多样度为0.840 0,核苷酸多样度为0.0486.表明利川马mtDNA Cytb基因遗传多态性较丰富.根据mtDNA Cytb基因序列构建的NJ树,发现利川马是多起源的物种.     

Comment on "Population size does not influence mitochondrial genetic diversity in animals"

Bazin et al. (Reports, 28 April, 2006, p. 570) found no relationship between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity and population size when comparing across large groups of animals. We show empirically that species with smaller populations, as represented by eutherian mammals, exhibit a positive correlation between mtDNA and allozyme variation, suggesting that mtDNA diversity may correlate with population size in these animals.     

线粒体DNA标记在昆虫学研究中的应用进展

综述了昆虫线粒体DNA（mtDNA）的特点、mtDNA标记优缺点及该标记在昆虫学研究中的应用。目前应用mtDNA作分子遗传标记主要用来进行昆虫分类单元的鉴定、物种或种群的系统发育、遗传多样性、基因流、起源及杂交带的研究,但由于mtDNA标记的缺点,因此常需与其他标记技术结合使用才能获得更可靠的结果。     

伏牛白山羊mtDNAD—loop序列多态性和系统进化分析

为研究河南省伏牛白山羊的遗传多样性和系统进化,试验测定了该品种8个个体的线粒体控制区全序列,结果表明,山羊控制区线粒体控制全序列长度为1212bp或1213bp,A T含量占60.1%,其中40个核苷酸位点存在变异(约占3.30%),核苷酸多样度为1.562%,这些差异共定义了7种单倍型,单倍型多样性为0.964,表明中国山羊品种遗传多样性丰富。根据伏牛白山羊序列和GENBANK两条野山羊序列构建了NJ分子系统树,聚类表明,伏牛白山羊和角骨羊单独聚在一枝上,二者亲缘关系较近,伏牛白山羊可能起源于角骨羊。