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Overexpression of human mitochondrial valyl tRNA synthetase can partially restore levels of cognate mt-tRNAVal carrying the pathogenic C25U mutation

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Joanna Rorbach, Dr Helen Tuppen, Professor Zofia Chrzanowska-LightowlersORCiD, Professor Robert Taylor, Emeritus Professor Doug Turnbull, Professor Bobby McFarlandORCiD, Professor Robert Lightowlers

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Abstract

Phenotypic diversity associated with pathogenic mutations of the human mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) has often been explained by unequal segregation of the mutated and wild-type genomes (heteroplasmy). However, this simple hypothesis cannot explain the tissue specificity of disorders caused by homoplasmic mtDNA mutations. We have previously associated a homoplasmic point mutation (1624C > T) in MTTV with a profound metabolic disorder that resulted in the neonatal deaths of numerous siblings. Affected tissues harboured a marked biochemical defect in components of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, presumably due to the extremely low (<1%) steady-state levels of mt-tRNAVal. In primary myoblasts and trans mitochondrial cybrids established from the proband (index case) and offspring, the marked respiratory deficiency was lost and steady-state levels of the mutated mt-tRNAVal were greater than in the biopsy material, but were still an order of magnitude lower than in control myoblasts. We present evidence that the generalized decrease in steady-state mt-tRNAVal observed in the homoplasmic 1624C > T-cell lines is caused by a rapid degradation of the deacylated form of the abnormal mt-tRNAVal. By both establishing the identity of the human mitochondrial valyl-tRNA synthetase then inducing its overexpression in trans mitochondrial cell lines, we have been able to partially restore steady-state levels of the mutated mt-tRNAVal, consistent with an increased stability of the charged mt-tRNA. These data indicate that variations in the levels of VARS2L between tissue types and patients could underlie the difference in clinical presentation between individuals homoplasmic for the 1624C > T mutation. © 2008 The Author(s).


Publication metadata

Author(s): Rorbach J, Yusoff A, Tuppen H, Abg-Kamaludin D, Chrzanowska-Lightowlers Z, Taylor R, Turnbull D, Mcfarland R, Lightowlers R

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Nucleic Acids Research

Year: 2008

Volume: 36

Issue: 9

Pages: 3065-3074

ISSN (print): 0305-1048

ISSN (electronic): 1362-4962

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkn147

DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn147

PubMed id: 18400783


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Medical Research Council
074454Wellcome Trust
G108/539Medical Research Council

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