title: Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy in Drosophila.
abstract: Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies are common and devastating multisystem genetic disorders characterized by neuromuscular dysfunction and tissue degeneration. Point mutations in the human mitochondrial ATP6 gene are known to cause several related mitochondrial disorders: NARP (neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa), MILS (maternally inherited Leigh's syndrome), and FBSN (familial bilateral striatal necrosis). We identified a pathogenic mutation in the Drosophila mitochondrial ATP6 gene that causes progressive, adult-onset neuromuscular dysfunction and myodegeneration. Our results demonstrate ultrastructural defects in the mitochondrial innermembrane, neural dysfunction, and a marked reduction in mitochondrial ATP synthase activity associated with this mutation. This Drosophila mutant recapitulates key features of the human neuromuscular disorders enabling detailed in vivo studies of these enigmatic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Celotto
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fergestad
authors.forename: Wayne A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Van Voorhies
authors.forename: Karolyn F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Buttle
authors.forename: Carmen A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mannella
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Palladino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D017237:Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C412204:ATP synthase subunit 6; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases