Mitochondrial DNA copy number threshold in mtDNA depletion myopathy

Neurology. 2005 Aug 9;65(3):453-5. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000171861.30277.88.

Abstract

The authors measured the absolute amount of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within single muscle fibers from two patients with thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) deficiency and two healthy controls. TK2 deficient fibers containing more than 0.01 mtDNA/microm3 had residual cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity. This defines the minimum amount of wild-type mtDNA molecules required to maintain COX activity in skeletal muscle and provides an explanation for the mosaic histochemical pattern seen in patients with mtDNA depletion syndrome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics*
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism
  • Energy Metabolism / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Dosage / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / genetics*
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / metabolism
  • Mitochondrial Myopathies / physiopathology
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiopathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reference Values
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Thymidine Kinase / deficiency*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase
  • Electron Transport Complex IV
  • thymidine kinase 2
  • Thymidine Kinase