title: Investigation of tRNA(Leu/Lys) and ATPase 6 genes mutations in Huntington's disease.
abstract: Huntington disease (HD) is a genetically dominant condition caused by expanded CAG repeats which code for glutamine in the HD gene product, huntingtin. Huntingtin is expressed in almost all tissues, so abnormalities outside the brain can also be expected. Involvement of nuclei and mitochondria in HD pathophysiology has been suggested. In fact mitochondrial dysfunction is reported in brains of patients suffering from HD. The tRNA gene mutations are one of hot spots that can cause mitochondrial disorders. In this study, possible mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage was evaluated by screening for mutations in the tRNA(leu/lys) and ATPase 6 genes of 20 patients with HD, using PCR and automated DNA sequencing. Mutations including an A8656G mutation in one patient were observed, which may be causal to the disease. Understanding the role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases could potentially be important for the development of therapeutic strategies in HD.
authors.affiliation: Science & Research Unit, Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Sadaf
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasraie
authors.forename: Massoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Houshmand
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Banoei
authors.forename: Solmaz Etemad
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ahari
authors.forename: Mehdi Shafa Shariat
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Panahi
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shariati
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moin
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics*; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D007930:Leucine / Q000235:genetics; D008239:Lysine / Q000235:genetics; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D012343:RNA, Transfer / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012343:RNA, Transfer; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D007930:Leucine; D008239:Lysine