线粒体ND1基因T3866C突变可能是Leber’s遗传性视神经病和四肢畸形跛行相关的突变

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy and limbs abnormity claudication may be associated with the mitochondrial ND1 T3866C mutation

线粒体DNA(Mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA)突变与人类许多疾病的发病机制相关。现报道1个具有典型母系遗传特征的中国人Leber’s遗传性视神经病和四肢畸形跛行的家系。该家系共5代60人,共27名母系成员,其中4人只有Leber’s遗传性视神经病症状,1人呈现四肢畸形跛行症状,4人同时具有上述两种临床症状,而其他成员无临床症状。对先证者的mtDNA全序列进行分析,发现ND1基因T3866C突变位点和43个多态位点,经系统进化树分析属于东亚单体型D4a3。MtDNAND13866位点T-C碱基的改变使ND1亚基第187位进化高度保守的异亮氨酸转变为苏氨酸,从而改变该蛋白的结构,进而影响其功能。在135名正常对照中未发现该突变。因此,线粒体ND1T3866C可能是与Leber’s遗传性视神经病和四肢畸形跛行相关的线粒体基因突变。

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA have been associated with a wide spectrum of clinical abnormalities. We reported here the clinical, genetic and molecular characterization of a five-generation Han Chinese pedigree with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy （LHON） and limbs abnormity claudication. Of 27 matrilineal relatives, four exhibited only LHON, one suffered from only limbs abnormity claudication, and four had both LHON and limbs abnormity claudication. Sequence analysis of mitochondrial genome in this family identified the known T3866C mutation in ND1 gene and other 43 variants belonging to the Asian haplogroup D4a3. The T3866C （I187T） mutation resulted in the replacement of isoleucine at position 187 with theronine. The isoleucine at position 187 located at one of transmembrane domain in ND1 polypeptide. The isoleucine at position 187 was extremely conserved among 29 organisms, while other variants showed no evolutionarily conservation. Furthermore, the T3866C was absence in 135 Chinese control subjects. The T3866C mutation likely alters the complex I activity, which causes mitochondrial dysfunction associated with LHON and limbs abnormity claudication. Therefore, the T3866C mutation is likely associated with LHON and limbs abnormity claudication.