Hi,

I hope not. Hugs, Roz

Inherited changes in mitochondrial DNA can cause problems with growth, development, and function of the body's systems. These mutations disrupt the mitochondria's ability to efficiently generate energy for the cell. Conditions caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA often involve multiple organ systems. The effects of these conditions are most pronounced in organs and tissues that require a lot of energy (such as the heart, brain, and muscles). Although the health consequences of inherited mitochondrial DNA mutations vary widely, some frequently observed features include muscle weakness and wasting, problems with movement, diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, loss of intellectual functions (dementia), hearing loss, and abnormalities involving the eyes and vision.

http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosome=MT...911C3BB5575EE7

The CVS1 study strongly suggested that maternally-inherited mtDNA changes (mutations or polymorphisms) are present in most individuals with CVS and neuromuscular disease (CVS+). Maternal relatives (mother, siblings, maternal aunts/uncles and the maternal grandmother) that share the same mtDNA type are often affected with various disease manifestations, but surprisingly, rarely with CVS. The disease manifestations that these relatives appear to be most predisposed to include migraine headache, depression, irritable bowel, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, heart arrhythmias, neurovascular dystrophy (intermittent pain and/or swelling, often in the extremities), and chronic fatigue. Most, but not all, of these diseases involve abnormal function of the autonomic nervous system (dysautonomia); this includes CVS. Siblings also appear to have an increased risk for learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is important to note CVS patients and their maternal relatives neither have, nor do we expect that they will get, all or most of the diseases on this list. Rather, the mtDNA code in some way predisposes (increases the chances) that they may someday get one or more of these diseases. The clinical [Boles et al., 2003] and DNA [Wang et al., 2004] findings from the CVS1 study are published.

http://www.cvsaonline.org/announceupdateCVS3.htm

Abstract
Annual Review of Biochemistry
Vol. 76 (Volume publication date July 2007)
(doi:10.1146/annurev.biochem.76.081205.150955)


Why Do We Have a Maternally Inherited Mitochondrial DNA? Insights from Evolutionary Medicine

Douglas C. Wallace*
Center for Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine and Genetics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3940 dwallace@uci.edu





Life is the interplay between structure and energy-immortalized through heritable, mutable information. Structure is the purview of the nuclear cytosol and is encoded by Mendelian genes while energy is the purview of the mitochondrion and controlled by the mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs). Mitochondria generate energy via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), oxidizing calories to generate the mitochondrial inner membrane proton gradient (ΔP). ΔP is then used to generate ATP, the amount determined by the coupling efficiency. The mtDNAs of all organisms retain essentially the same set of "core" OXPHOS genes, all of which are involved in the generation or utilization of ΔP. Since ΔP is the common currency of OXPHOS, the functions of the core proteins must be co-optimized. This is accomplished by retention of the "core" genes on the maternally inherited mtDNA such that each new mutation is tested by selection in the context of the other linked protein variants.

Expected online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry Volume 76 is June 2, 2007. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/catalog/pub_dates.asp for revised estimates.

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You are a wealth of knowledge. Wow.

All I know is that my uncle had it (my dads brother - paternal side) after carpal tunnel surgery.

My mom has all kinds of other problems. Lived through cancer 3x's, her lungs fill with fluid, car accident caused broken back, she might actually have RSD now (in my opinion - the docs haven't said it) she complains of extreme pains in her back to this day.

Hi Christine,

We discussed genetics a couple of weeks ago, your link came up there too, you might like to take a look:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=18864

Thanks for the links, Roz, this is a fascinating subject.

all the best

Hi Everyone,

This article is easy to understand on maternal mitochondrial DNA.
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/chromosome=MT...911C3BB5575EE7

Hi Again,

Sorry for all the separate posts but I can't type very long. You all know how bad my spelling has become anyway. These articles explain the maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA sequence relating to vision problems that some of us have. Love, Roz xxx

Retinitis pigmentosa
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001029.htm

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=leb...pticneuropathy