Mutation of a nuclear succinate dehydrogenase gene results in mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency

Nat Genet. 1995 Oct;11(2):144-9. doi: 10.1038/ng1095-144.

Abstract

We now report a mutation in the nuclear-encoded flavoprotein (Fp) subunit gene of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in two siblings with complex II deficiency presenting as Leigh syndrome. Both patients were homozygous for an Arg554Trp substitution in the Fp subunit. Their parents (first cousins) were heterozygous for the mutation that occurred in a conserved domain of the protein and was absent from 120 controls. The deleterious effect of the Arg to Trp substitution on the catalytic activity of SDH was observed in a SDH- yeast strain transformed with mutant Fp cDNA. The Fp subunit gene is duplicated in the human genome (3q29; 5p15), with only the gene on chromosome 5 expressed in human-hamster somatic cell hybrids. This is the first report of a nuclear gene mutation causing a mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency in humans.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cattle
  • Cell Nucleus / enzymology
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Consanguinity
  • DNA Primers
  • Electron Transport Complex II
  • Electron Transport Complex IV / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / enzymology
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / enzymology
  • Male
  • Mitochondria / enzymology*
  • Mitochondria, Muscle / enzymology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multienzyme Complexes / deficiency*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Nuclear Family
  • Oxidoreductases / deficiency*
  • Pedigree
  • Point Mutation*
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / enzymology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / biosynthesis
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / deficiency*
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Oxidoreductases
  • Electron Transport Complex II
  • Succinate Dehydrogenase
  • Electron Transport Complex IV

Associated data

  • GENBANK/S79641