title: Mitochondrial DNA: impacting central and peripheral nervous systems.
abstract: Because of their high-energy metabolism, neurons are strictly dependent on mitochondria, which generate cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. The mitochondrial genome encodes for critical components of the oxidative phosphorylation pathway machinery, and therefore, mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cause energy production defects that frequently have severe neurological manifestations. Here, we review the principles of mitochondrial genetics and focus on prototypical mitochondrial diseases to illustrate how primary defects in mtDNA or secondary defects in mtDNA due to nuclear genome mutations can cause prominent neurological and multisystem features. In addition, we discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying mitochondrial diseases, the cellular mechanisms that protect mitochondrial integrity, and the prospects for therapy.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy; Neurology Unit, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carelli
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA. Electronic address: dchan@caltech.edu.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial