A3243G mitochondrial DNA mutation in Tunisian diabetic population.
BACKGROUND
An excess of maternal transmission of adult onset diabetes mellitus has been observed in the studied Tunisian patients, in fact, diabetic patients with affected mother are significantly more important than those with affected father (p< 10-6) There is increasing evidence that mtDNA mutations may be involved in this disease, since mitochondrial transmission offers a plausible explanation for a proportion of this maternal excess comparing to paternal transmission.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the mitochondrial DNA involvement in the inheritance of diabetes in Tunisian population and to evaluate the frequency of substitution A3243G in these patients.


METHODS
In the current study we investigated for the first time, the 3243 mtDNA in 280 Tunisian diabetic patients.


RESULTS
Results showed that the frequency of this substitution in tRNALeu is about 1.07%. This percentage is similar to those reported in Japanese, German and French populations.
Bouhaha
Rym
R
Laboratory of Genetics, Immunology and Human Pathologies, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Tunisia.
Abid Kamoun
Hafaoua
H
Elgaaied
Amel
A
Ennafaa
Hajer
H
D000328:Adult; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D014416:Tunisia
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial