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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Robert Lightowlers, Professor Patrick Chinnery, Emeritus Professor Doug Turnbull
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Mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is present at high copy number (103-104 copies) in virtually all cells of the body. The mitochondrial genome shows strict maternal inheritance and the vast majority of copies are identical at birth (homoplasmy). Occasionally, a subpopulation of mtDNA molecules carry a pathogenic mutation. When this heteroplasmic mtDNA is present during embryogenesis, it can lead to a variety of clinical symptoms predominantly affecting muscle and nerve, but also affecting other tissues. While the importance of mitochondrial heteroplasmy in human disease is unquestioned, we remain largely ignorant of many fundamental aspects of mitochondrial genetics. How do mutations arise and can they be repaired, what influences the segregation and fixation of heteroplasmic mtDNA, do levels of heteroplasmy fluctuate during life, is it possible to modulate these levels by external intervention and, finally, can we predict the segregation and transmission of a mutant genome? The aim of this article is to summarize and discuss recent observations that have addressed several of these fundamental issues and to reiterate how much we still have to learn about mitochondrial genetics.
Author(s): Lightowlers RN, Chinnery PF, Turnbull DM, Howell N, Turnbull DM
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Trends in Genetics
Year: 1997
Volume: 13
Issue: 11
Pages: 450-455
Print publication date: 01/11/1997
ISSN (print): 0168-9525
ISSN (electronic): 1362-4555
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9525(97)01266-3
DOI: 10.1016/S0168-9525(97)01266-3
PubMed id: 9385842
