The A3243G tRNALeu(UUR) mutation induces mitochondrial dysfunction and variable disease expression without dominant negative acting translational defects in complex IV subunits at UUR codons.
Mutations in the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene are associated with a large variety of human diseases through a largely undisclosed mechanism. The A3243G tRNA(Leu(UUR)) mutation leads to reduction of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded proteins and oxidative phosphorylation activity even when the cells are competent in mitochondrial translation. These two aspects led to the suggestion that a dominant negative factor may underlie the diversity of disease expression. Here we test the hypothesis that A3243G tRNA(Leu(UUR)) generates such a dominant negative gain-of-function defect through misincorporation of amino acids at UUR codons of mtDNA-encoded proteins. Using an anti-complex IV immunocapture technique and mass spectrometry, we show that the mtDNA-encoded cytochrome c oxidase I (COX I) and COX II exist exclusively with the correct amino acid sequences in A3243G cells in a misassembled complex IV. A dominant negative component therefore cannot account for disease phenotype, leaving tissue-specific accumulation by mtDNA segregation as the most likely cause of variable mitochondrial disease expression.
Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Post Zone S1-P, Einthovenweg 20, PO Box 9600, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands. G.M.C.Janssen@lumc.nl
George M C
GM
Janssen
Paul J
PJ
Hensbergen
Frans J
FJ
van Bussel
Crina I A
CI
Balog
J Antonie
JA
Maassen
André M
AM
Deelder
Anton K
AK
Raap
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003062:Codon / Q000378:metabolism; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism; D012356:RNA, Transfer, Leu / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
D003062:Codon; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012356:RNA, Transfer, Leu; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV