TY - JOUR T1 - MELAS-associated m.5541C&gt;T mutation caused instability of mitochondrial tRNA<sup>Trp</sup> and remarkable mitochondrial dysfunction JF - Journal of Medical Genetics JO - J Med Genet DO - 10.1136/jmedgenet-2020-107323 SP - jmedgenet-2020-107323 AU - Kunqian Ji AU - Yan Lin AU - Xuebi Xu AU - Wei Wang AU - Dongdong Wang AU - Chen Zhang AU - Wei Li AU - Yuying Zhao AU - Chuanzhu Yan Y1 - 2020/11/18 UR - http://jmg.bmj.com/content/early/2020/11/17/jmedgenet-2020-107323.abstract N2 - Background Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episode (MELAS) is a group of genetic diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA. The causative mutations of MELAS have drawn much attention, among them, mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes possessing prominent status. However, the detailed molecular pathogenesis of these tRNA gene mutations remains unclear and there are very few effective therapies available to date.Methods We performed muscle histochemistry, genetic analysis, molecular dynamic stimulation and measurement of oxygen consumption rate and respiratory chain complex activities to demonstrate the molecular pathomechanisms of m.5541C&gt;T mutation. Moreover, we use cybrid cells to investigate the potential of taurine to rescue mitochondrial dysfunction caused by this mutation.Results We found a pathogenic m.5541C&gt;T mutation in the tRNATrp gene in a large MELAS family. This mutation first affected the maturation and stability of tRNATrp and impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activities, followed by remarkable mitochondrial dysfunction. Surprisingly, we identified that the supplementation of taurine almost completely restored mitochondrial tRNATrp levels and mitochondrial respiration deficiency at the in vitro cell level.Conclusion The m.5541C&gt;T mutation disturbed the translation machinery of mitochondrial tRNATrp and taurine supplementation may be a potential treatment for patients with m.5541C&gt;T mutation. Further studies are needed to explore the full potential of taurine supplementation as therapy for patients with this mutation. ER -