Cited by 366Mitochondrial Function and PathologyGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsAlzheimer's disease research and treatments

High aggregate burden of somatic mtDNA point mutations in aging and Alzheimer's disease brain

Lin, M. T.·2002·Human Molecular Genetics

Abstract

The mitochondrial theory of aging proposes that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) accumulates mutations with age, and that these mutations contribute to physiological decline in aging and degenerative diseases. Although a great deal of indirect evidence supports this hypothesis, the aggregate burden of mtDNA mutations, particularly point mutations, has not been systematically quantified in aging or neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, we directly assessed the aggregate burden of brain mtDNA point mutations in 17 subjects with Alzheimer's disease (AD), 10 elderly control subjects and 14 younger control subjects, using a PCR-cloning-sequencing strategy. We found that brain mtDNA from elderly subjects had a higher aggregate burden of mutations than brain mtDNA from younger subjects. The average aggregate mutational burden in elderly subjects was 2 x 10(-4) mutations/bp. The bulk of these mutations were individually rare point mutations, 60% of which changed an amino acid. Control experiments ensure that these results were not due to artifacts arising from PCR error, mistaken identification of nuclear pseudogenes or ex vivo oxidation. Cytochrome oxidase activity correlated negatively with increasing mutational burden. These findings significantly bolster the mitochondrial theory of aging.

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Crossref · 10.1093/hmg/11.2.133

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Authors
Lin, M. T.
Affiliations
Cornell University (US)
Corresponding author
Lin, M. T.
Venue
Human Molecular Genetics
Published
2002-01-01
Volume
11
Issue
2
Pages
133-145
ISSN
  • 0964-6906 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2083
OpenAlex
W2148641357
Cited by
366
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 20
FWCI
6.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Human Molecular Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5k08ns001971-03, 5k08ag000798-03)
  • National Institute on Aging (K08-AG00798)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (K08 NS01971)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
Keywords
mitochondrial DNA, somatic mtDNA mutations, point mutations, aging, Alzheimer's disease, mitochondrial theory of aging, brain, cytochrome oxidase activity, neurodegeneration
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Brain, Child, Cloning, Molecular, Electron Transport Complex IV, DNA, Mitochondrial, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Molecular Sequence Data, Pseudogenes, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Point Mutation, Sequence Analysis, DNA

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