Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10883067 | Mitochondrion | 2013 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymerase γ (POLG) mutator mice provide the first experimental evidence that high levels of somatic mtDNA mutations can be functionally significant. Here we report that older homozygous, but not heterozygous, POLG mice show significant reductions in striatal dopaminergic terminals as well as deficits in motor function. However, resting oxygen consumption, heat production, mtDNA content and mitochondrial electron transport chain activities are significantly decreased at older ages in both homozygous and heterozygous mice. These results indicate that high levels of somatic mtDNA mutations can contribute to dopaminergic dysfunction and to behavioral and metabolic deficits.
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Biophysics
Authors
Ying Dai, Tomas Kiselak, Joanne Clark, Elizabeth Clore, Kangni Zheng, Allen Cheng, Gregory C. Kujoth, Tomas A. Prolla, Eleftheria Maratos-Flier, David K. Simon,