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A microdeletion in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit III associated with COX deficiency and recurrent myoglobinuria

Abstract

We have identified a 15-bp microdeletion in a highly conserved region of the mitochondrially encoded gene for cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit III in a patient with severe isolated COX deficiency and recurrent myoglobinuria. The mutant mitochondrial DMA (mtDNA) comprised 92% of the mtDNA in muscle and 0.7% in leukocytes. Immunoblots and immunocytochemistry suggested a lack of assembly or instability of the complex. Microdissected muscle fibres revealed significantly higher proportions of mutant mtDNA in COX-negative than in COX-positive fibres. This represents the first case of isolated COX deficiency to be defined at the molecular level.

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Keightley, J., Hoffbuhr, K., Burton, M. et al. A microdeletion in cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit III associated with COX deficiency and recurrent myoglobinuria. Nat Genet 12, 410–416 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0496-410

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