title: Mitochondrial mutations: newly discovered players in neuronal degeneration.
abstract: Mutations in mitochondrial DNA cause a number of neurological diseases with defined neuropathology; however, mutations in this genome have also been found to be important in a number of more common neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the authors discuss the importance of mitochondrial DNA mutations in a number of different diseases and speculate how such mutations could lead to cell loss. Increasing our understanding of how mitochondrial DNA mutations affect mitochondrial metabolism and subsequently result in neurodegenerative disease will prove vital to the development of targeted therapies and treatments.
authors: Centre for Brain Ageing and Vitality, Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors: Nichola Z
authors: NZ
authors: Lax
authors: Doug M
authors: DM
authors: Turnbull
authors: Amy K
authors: AK
authors: Reeve
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000235:genetics; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial