[The analysis of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy associated with mitochondrial tRNAAla C5601T mutation in seven Han Chinese families]

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: the roles of mitochondrial transfer RNA variants

Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) was a common maternally inherited disease causing severe and permanent visual loss which mostly affects males. Three primary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, ND1 3460G>A, ND4 11778G>A and ND6 14484T>C, which affect genes encoding respiratory chain complex I subunit, are responsible for >90% of LHON cases worldwide. Families with maternally transmitted LHON show incomplete penetrance with a male preponderance for visual loss, suggesting the involvement of secondary mtDNA variants and other modifying factors. In particular, variants in mitochondrial tRNA (mt-tRNA) are important risk factors for LHON. These variants decreased the tRNA stability, prevent tRNA aminoacylation, influence the post-transcriptionalmodification and affect tRNA maturation. Failure of mt-tRNA metabolism subsequently impairs protein synthesis and expression, folding, and function of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) enzymes, which aggravates mitochondrial dysfunction that is involved in the progression and pathogenesis of LHON. This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of mt-tRNA biology and function, as well as the reported LHON-related mt-tRNA second variants; it also discusses the molecular mechanism behind the involvement of these variants in LHON.

Mitochondrial tRNAAla 5601C>T variant may affect the clinical expression of the LHON‑related ND4 11778G>A mutation in a family

Certain mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are associated with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). In particular, the well-known NADH dehydrogenase 4 (ND4) m.11778G>A mutation is one of the most common LHON-associated primary mutations worldwide. However, how specific mtDNA mutations, or variants, affect LHON penetrance is not fully understood. The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between mtDNA mutations and LHON, and to provide useful information for early detection and prevention of this disease. Following the molecular characterization of a Han Chinese family with maternally inherited LHON, four out of eight matrilineal relatives demonstrated varying degrees of both visual impairment and age of onset. Through PCR amplification of mitochondrial genomes and direct Sanger sequencing analysis, a homoplasmic mitochondrial-encoded ND4 m.11778G>A mutation, alongside a set of genetic variations belonging to human mtDNA haplogroup B5b1 were identified. Among these sequence variants, alanine transfer RNA (tRNA)^Ala m.5601C>T was of particular interest. This variant occurred at position 59 in the TψC loop and altered the base pairing, which led to mitochondrial RNA (mt-RNA) metabolism failure and defects in mitochondrial protein synthesis. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the m.5601C>T variant altered tRNA^Ala structure. Therefore, impaired mitochondrial functions caused by the ND4 m.11778G>A mutation may be enhanced by the mt-tRNA^Ala m.5601C>T variant. These findings suggested that the tRNA^Ala m.5601C>T variant might modulate the clinical manifestation of the LHON-associated primary mutation.

Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy is Associated with Compound Primary Mutations of Mitochondrial ND1 m.3635G > A and ND6 m.14502 T > C

PURPOSE

To describe the clinical and molecular characteristics of a Chinese Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) pedigree with compound mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations of m.3635G > A and m.14502T > C.

METHODS

A total of 22 individuals (2 affected, 20 unaffected) from a five-generation Chinese family with LHON underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, including visual acuity, slit lamp examination, fundoscopy, visual field examination and visual evoked potentials (VEP). The complete mtDNA genome of the two patients were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, sequenced using a Bigdye terminator v3.1 cycle sequencing kit and analyzed on an ABI 3700XL Genetic Analyzer.

RESULTS

Two LHON patients in the family presented typical features of LHON: painless and progressive deterioration of bilateral vision, bilateral optic atrophy, centrocecal scotomata in both eyes and significant prolonged P100 latency and low amplitude potential in VEP. Compound primary mtDNA mutations of m.3635G > A and m.14502T > C were identified in these two patients and another 12 living matrilineal members of the pedigree. Haplogroup analysis showed the patients in this LHON family belonged to the N9b1 haplogroup. Modeled mutant structure showed the mutations altered the molecular local space conformation on the surface of ND1 and ND6.

CONCLUSIONS

Compound mtDNA mutations of m.3635G > A and m.14502T > C presented with low penetration, and the patients with these compound mutations exhibited mild visual impairment. The biological information analysis suggested that m.14502T > C might play a protective role in LHON associated with m.3635G > A. The haplogroup analysis indicated that the mtDNA haplogroup might be an important factor affecting the expression of LHON associated with m.3635G > A and/or m.14502T > C.