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Biomedical subjects

C T Moraes

Publications and source records attributed to C T Moraes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Mitochondrial DNA depletion: mutations in thymidine kinase gene with myopathy and SMA.

BACKGROUND: The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndrome (MDS) is an autosomal recessive disorder of early childhood characterized by decreased mtDNA copy number in affected tissues. Recently, MDS has been linked to mutations in two genes involved in deoxyribonucleotide (dNTP) metabolism: thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) and deoxy-guanosine kinase (dGK). Mutations in TK2 have been associated with the myopathic form of MDS, and mutations in dGK with the hepatoencephalopathic form. OBJECTIVES: To further characterize the frequency and clinical spectrum of these mutations, the authors screened 20 patients with myopathic MDS. RESULTS: No patient had dGK gene mutations, but four patients from two families had TK2 mutations. Two siblings were compound heterozygous for a previously reported H90N mutation and a novel T77M mutation. The other siblings harbored a homozygous I22M mutation, and one of them had evidence of lower motor neuron disease. The pathogenicity of these mutations was confirmed by reduced TK2 activity in muscle (28% to 37% of controls). CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the clinical expression of TK2 mutations is not limited to myopathy and that the myopathic form of MDS is genetically heterogeneous.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2001

Manipulating mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy by a mitochondrially targeted restriction endonuclease.

Mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can cause a variety of human diseases. In most cases, such mutations are heteroplasmic (i.e. mutated and wild-type mtDNA coexist) and a small percentage of wild-type sequences can have a strong protective effect against a metabolic defect. Because a genetic approach to correct mtDNA mutations is not currently available, the ability to modulate heteroplasmy would have a major impact in the phenotype of many patients with mitochondrial disorders. We show here that a restriction endonuclease targeted to mitochondria has this ability. A mitochondrially targeted PstI degraded mtDNA harboring PstI sites, in some cases leading to a complete loss of mitochondrial genomes. Recombination between DNA ends released by PstI was not observed. When expressed in a heteroplasmic rodent cell line, containing one mtDNA haplotype with two sites for PstI and another haplotype having none, the mitochondrial PstI caused a significant shift in heteroplasmy, with an accumulation of the mtDNA haplotype lacking PstI sites. These experiments provide proof of the principle that restriction endonucleases are feasible tools for genetic therapy of a sub-group of mitochondrial disorders. Although this approach is limited by the presence of mutation-specific restriction sites, patients with neuropathy, ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa (NARP) could benefit from it, as the T8399G mutation creates a unique restriction site that is not present in wild-type human mitochondrial DNA.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2001

Dysfunctional mitochondrial respiration in the wobbler mouse brain.

The involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction promoting neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has been suggested. Histopathological and biochemical mitochondrial abnormalities have been reported in both sporadic and familial patients and suggest the contention that mitochondria may play a key role promoting ALS. Animal models of ALS provide a unique opportunity to study this incurable and fatal human disease. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that alterations in mitochondrial physiology occur in the brain of wobbler mice. No significant difference was found in the respiratory control index or adenosine diphosphate/oxygen ratio values between isolated mitochondria of wobbler and control mice. When pyruvate and malate were used as substrates, oxygen consumption was decreased significantly by approximately 33% in mitochondria isolated from wobbler mouse brain compared to controls. Oxygen consumption in the presence of ascorbate and N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) was decreased significantly by approximately 21% in wobbler brain mitochondria compared to controls, which suggests impairment in the function of complex IV. These findings are the first demonstration of mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction in the brain of the wobbler mouse.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed2001

Reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial diseases.

A variety of diseases have been associated with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced mostly in the mitochondria as byproducts of normal cell respiration. The interrelationship between ROS and mitochondria suggests shared pathogenic mechanisms in mitochondrial and ROS-related diseases. Defects in oxidative phosphorylation can increase ROS production, whereas ROS-mediated damage to biomolecules can have direct effects on the components of the electron transport system. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of ROS production and damage, as well as the existing evidence of mitochondrial ROS involvement in human diseases.

DNA, Mitochondrial↗
PubMed2001

What regulates mitochondrial DNA copy number in animal cells?

The study of the control of mitochondrial DNA copy number spans several decades and has identified many factors involved in the replication of the mitochondrial genome. However, the mechanisms involved in the regulation of this process are still obscure, particularly in animal cells. During the past decade, however, the identification of human diseases associated with drastically reduced levels of mtDNA caused renewed interest in this topic. Here, I will discuss recent work that sheds some light on how animal cells might maintain and control mtDNA levels.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

A helicase is born.

One of three loci previously associated with autosomal dominant progressive external ophthalmoplegia (adPEO) encodes ANT1, a mitochondrial nucleotide transporter. Now, mutations in two other genes are found in people with adPEO. One of these encodes a new helicase, Twinkle, which is related to the product of bacteriophage T7 gene 4, and co-localizes with mitochondrial DNA. The identification of Twinkle adds a new star to the expanding constellation of 'helicase diseases'.

DNA Helicases↗
PubMed2000

Rho(0) tumor cells: a model for studying whether mitochondria are targets for rhodamine 123, doxorubicin, and other drugs.

A human osteosarcoma cell line devoid of mitochondrial DNA (rho(0)) and its wild-type parental cell counterpart (wt) are presented as a model to investigate drug targeting. By virtue of the absence of mitochondrial DNA, rho(0) cells cannot perform electron transport or oxidative phosphorylation. Since most of the drugs studied are transported by the efflux pumping systems controlled by the MDR1 and MRP1 genes, both cell lines were examined for the expression of these genes, and it was found that no MDR1 and only low amounts of MRP1 were expressed. Growth inhibition experiments indicated that doxorubicin (Dox), vinblastine, and paclitaxel were equitoxic in these cell lines. On the other hand, the IC(50) for rhodamine 123 (Rho 123) in rho(0) cells was 50 times higher than in wt cells. This result correlates with a lower accumulation of Rho 123 in rho(0) cells as measured by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry (3 times less than in wt cells). In contrast, when stained with Dox, both cell types accumulated similar amounts. Surprisingly, in these non-P-glycoprotein expressing cells, verapamil increased both Dox and Rho 123 retention. Overall, these data suggest that: (i) functional mitochondria do not appear to be targets for the growth inhibitory activities of Dox, paclitaxel, or vinblastine; (ii) for lipophilic cations like Rho 123, however, normal functioning mitochondria and maintenance of a normal mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi(mt)) appear to play a critical role in the intracellular accumulation and subsequent cytotoxicities of these compounds; and (iii) verapamil increases drug accumulation in non-P-glycoprotein expressing cell lines, most likely by direct action on Deltapsi(mt) for Rho 123 and safranin O, and on heretofore unidentified plasma membrane transporters, as well as via interaction with low levels of MRP1, for Dox. These results should be considered when Rho 123 and verapamil are used to detect P-glycoprotein.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2000

Functional constraints of nuclear-mitochondrial DNA interactions in xenomitochondrial rodent cell lines.

The co-evolution of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in vertebrates led to more than 100 specific interactions that are crucial for an optimized ATP generation. These interactions have been examined by introducing rat mtDNA into mouse cells devoid of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). When mtDNA-less cells derived from the common mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) were fused to cytoplasts prepared from Mus musculus, Mus spretus, or rat (Rattus norvegicus), a comparable number of respiring clones could be obtained. Mouse xenomitochondrial cybrids harboring rat mtDNA had a slower growth rate in medium containing galactose as the carbon source, suggesting a defect in oxidative phosphorylation. These clones respired approximately 50% less than the parental mouse cells or xenomitochondrial cybrids harboring Mus spretus mtDNA. The activities of respiratory complexes I and IV were approximately 50% lower, but mitochondrial protein synthesis was unaffected. The defects in complexes I and IV were associated with decreased steady-state levels of respective subunits suggesting problems in assembly. We also showed that the presence of 10% mouse mtDNA co-existing with rat mtDNA was sufficient to restore respiration to normal levels. Our results suggest that evolutionary distance alone is not a precise predictor of nuclear-mitochondrial interactions as previously suggested for primates.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2000

Lack of oxidative phosphorylation and low mitochondrial membrane potential decrease susceptibility to apoptosis and do not modulate the protective effect of Bcl-x(L) in osteosarcoma cells.

We explored the role of low mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and the lack of oxidative phosphorylation in apoptosis by assessing the susceptibility of osteosarcoma cell lines with and without mitochondrial DNA to staurosporine-induced death. Our cells without mitochondrial DNA had low DeltaPsim and no functional oxidative phosphorylation. Contrary to our expectation, these cells were more resistant to staurosporine-induced death than were the parental cells. This reduced susceptibility was associated with decreased activation of caspase 3 but not with the mitochondrial permeability transition pore or cytochrome c release from the mitochondria. Apoptosis in both cell lines was associated with an increase in DeltaPsim. Bcl-x(L) could protect both cell types against caspase 3 activation and apoptosis by a mechanism that does not appear to be mediated by mitochondrial function or modulation of DeltaPsim. Nevertheless, we found that Bcl-x(L) expression can stimulate cell respiration in cells with mitochondrial DNA. Our results showed that the lack of functional oxidative phosphorylation and/or low mitochondrial membrane potential are associated with an antiapoptotic effect, possibly contributing to the development of some types of cancer. It also reinforces a model in which Bcl-x(L) can exert an antiapoptotic effect by stimulating oxidative phosphorylation and/or inhibiting caspase activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed2000

Mitochondrial function in heart muscle from patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). METHODS: Mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activities were assessed spectrophotometrically in left ventricular tissue of 17 patients with IDC undergoing cardiac transplantation, as well as in two groups of controls: a group of six patients suffering from ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (IC) also undergoing cardiac transplantation, and a group of 17 organ donors considered normal from a cardiac point of view. Cytochrome b gene from three IDC patients whose complex III activity was particularly low and from three controls was also sequenced. RESULTS: We found that complex III enzymatic activity was lower not only in IDC but also in IC patients when compared with normal controls. When analysing cytochrome b gene we only found neutral polymorphisms previously described. CONCLUSIONS: In view of such results, we believe that the decrease of respiratory chain complex III activity found in some cases of IDC is a secondary phenomenon, and not due to a primary mitochondrial disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A novel myopathy-associated mitochondrial DNA mutation altering the conserved size of the tRNA(Gln) anticodon loop.

We report a novel mitochondrial DNA alteration in a 12-year-old boy with myopathy. We identified a single nucleotide insertion (an adenine) in the mitochondrial tRNA-glutamine gene. This addition of an additional adenine in a polyadenine stretch (at mitochondrial DNA positions 4366-4369), alters the length of the evolutionary conserved anticodon loop from seven to eight bases. The nt-4370 addition was heteroplasmic and was abundant in the patient's muscle. Lower proportions of mutated mitochondrial DNA were observed in skin fibroblasts, but were below detectable levels in white blood cells. A muscle biopsy of the patient showed ragged red fibers and an unusually high percentage of cytochrome c oxidase-deficient fibers (89%). The pathogenicity of the mutation was also evident by the fact that fibers harboring lower levels of the mutation showed normal cytochrome c oxidase activity. The insertion in the anticodon loop of tRNA(Gln) gene identified in our patient may provide a unique tool to study protein synthesis in human mitochondria.

Adenine↗
PubMed2000

Cloning of an endangered species (Bos gaurus) using interspecies nuclear transfer.

Approximately 100 species become extinct a day. Despite increasing interest in using cloning to rescue endangered species, successful interspecies nuclear transfer has not been previously described, and only a few reports of in vitro embryo formation exist. Here we show that interspecies nuclear transfer can be used to clone an endangered species with normal karyotypic and phenotypic development through implantation and the late stages of fetal growth. Somatic cells from a gaur bull (Bos gaurus), a large wild ox on the verge of extinction, (Species Survival Plan < 100 animals) were electrofused with enucleated oocytes from domestic cows. Twelve percent of the reconstructed oocytes developed to the blastocyst stage, and 18% of these embryos developed to the fetal stage when transferred to surrogate mothers. Three of the fetuses were electively removed at days 46 to 54 of gestation, and two continued gestation longer than 180 (ongoing) and 200 days, respectively. Microsatellite marker and cytogenetic analyses confirmed that the nuclear genome of the cloned animals was gaurus in origin. The gaur nuclei were shown to direct normal fetal development, with differentiation into complex tissue and organs, even though the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within all the tissue types evaluated was derived exclusively from the recipient bovine oocytes. These results suggest that somatic cell cloning methods could be used to restore endangered, or even extinct, species and populations.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Cytochrome c oxidase assembly in primates is sensitive to small evolutionary variations in amino acid sequence.

Respiring mitochondria require many interactions between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Although mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the gorilla and the chimpanzee are able to restore oxidative phosphorylation in a human cell, mtDNAs from more distant primate species are functionally incompatible with human nuclear genes. Using microcell-mediated chromosome and mitochondria transfer, we introduced and maintained a functional orangutan mtDNA in a human nuclear background. However, partial oxidative phosphorylation function was restored only in the presence of most orangutan chromosomes, suggesting that human oxidative phosphorylation-related nuclear-coded genes are not able to replace many orangutan ones. The respiratory capacity of these hybrids was decreased by 65%-80%, and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity was decreased by 85%-95%. The function of other respiratory complexes was not significantly altered. The translation of mtDNA-coded COX subunits was normal, but their steady-state levels were approximately 10% of normal ones. Nuclear-coded COX subunits were loosely associated with mitochondrial membranes, a characteristic of COX assembly-defective mutants. Our results suggest that many human nuclear-coded genes not only cannot replace the orangutan counterparts, but also exert a specific interference at the level of COX assembly. This cellular model underscores the precision of COX assembly in mammals and sheds light on the nature of nuclear-mtDNA coevolutionary constraints.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

An out-of-frame cytochrome b gene deletion from a patient with parkinsonism is associated with impaired complex III assembly and an increase in free radical production.

We have isolated transmitochondrial cybrids containing a mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b 4-base pair deletion previously identified in a patient with parkinsonism. This presentation is in contrast to that of most patients with cytochrome b mutations, who present with exercise intolerance. Clones containing different levels of the cytochrome b 4-base pair deletion showed that high levels of the mutation were associated with a respiratory deficiency and a specific complex III defect. Newly synthesized full-length cytochrome b was undetectable by metabolic labeling of mutant cells, and these cells were unable to grow in media that restricts proliferation of cells with defective oxidative phosphorylation. Steady state levels of some subunits previously found to be in close association with cytochrome b by crystallography and biochemical analysis (ie, Rieske [2Fe-2S] protein and subunit VI) were drastically reduced in clones containing high levels of the mutation, whereas the reduction in the core-1 subunit was milder. The absence of cytochrome b and complex III activity was also associated with increased hydrogen peroxide production. These findings, together with the variable tissue distribution of pathogenic mitochondrial DNA molecules, provide clues to the heterogeneous phenotypes associated with mitochondrial DNA mutations and establish a link between different forms of parkinsonism and oxidative phosphorylation defects.

Cytochrome b Group↗
PubMed1999

Dopamine transporter mRNA in autopsy studies of chronic cocaine users.

The effects of chronic cocaine abuse on transcriptional regulation of human dopamine transporter (DAT) mRNA in midbrain dopaminergic neurons was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). DAT/cyclophilin mRNA ratios in the substantia nigra (SN) were unchanged in cocaine overdose (CO) victims as compared to age-matched and drug-free control (CTRL) subjects. In contrast, DAT mRNA levels were decreased significantly in agitated cocaine delirium victims (67%, p<0.05). These findings demonstrate the lack of a regulatory influence by cocaine on the steady state content of DAT mRNA in cocaine abusers. In contrast, DAT gene expression was altered significantly in cocaine abusers at risk for agitated delirium.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Titrating the effects of mitochondrial complex I impairment in the cell physiology.

The mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system consists of five multimeric enzymes (complexes I-V). NADH dehydrogenase or complex I (CI) is affected in most of the mitochondrial diseases and in some neurodegenerative disorders. We have studied the physiological consequences of a partial CI inhibition at the cellular level. We used a genetic model (40% CI-inhibited human-ape xenomitochondrial cybrids) and a drug-induced model (0-100% CI-inhibited cells using different concentrations of rotenone). We observed a quantitative correlation between the level of CI impairment and cell respiration, cell growth, free radical production, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis. We showed that cell death was quantitatively associated with free radical production rather than with a decrease in respiratory chain function. The results obtained with human xenomitochondrial cybrid cells were compatible with those observed in rotenone-induced 40% CI-inhibited cells. At high concentrations (5-6-fold higher than the concentration necessary for 100% CI inhibition), rotenone showed a second toxic effect at the level of microtubule assembly, which also led to apoptosis. The correlation found among all the parameters studied helped clarify the physiological consequences of partial CI inhibitions at the cellular level.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Mechanisms of human mitochondrial DNA maintenance: the determining role of primary sequence and length over function.

Although the regulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number is performed by nuclear-coded factors, very little is known about the mechanisms controlling this process. We attempted to introduce nonhuman ape mtDNA into human cells harboring either no mtDNA or mutated mtDNAs (partial deletion and tRNA gene point mutation). Unexpectedly, only cells containing no mtDNA could be repopulated with nonhuman ape mtDNA. Cells containing a defective human mtDNA did not incorporate or maintain ape mtDNA and therefore died under selection for oxidative phosphorylation function. On the other hand, foreign human mtDNA was readily incorporated and maintained in these cells. The suicidal preference for self-mtDNA showed that functional parameters associated with oxidative phosphorylation are less relevant to mtDNA maintenance and copy number control than recognition of mtDNA self-determinants. Non-self-mtDNA could not be maintained into cells with mtDNA even if no selection for oxidative phosphorylation was applied. The repopulation kinetics of several mtDNA forms after severe depletion by ethidium bromide treatment showed that replication and maintenance of mtDNA in human cells are highly dependent on molecular features, because partially deleted mtDNA molecules repopulated cells significantly faster than full-length mtDNA. Taken together, our results suggest that mtDNA copy number may be controlled by competition for limiting levels of trans-acting factors that recognize primarily mtDNA molecular features. In agreement with this hypothesis, marked variations in mtDNA levels did not affect the transcription of nuclear-coded factors involved in mtDNA replication.

Animals↗