ISSN:
1573-6881
Keywords:
Cytochromec oxidase
;
respiratory chain
;
complex IV
;
mitochondrial myopathies
;
mitochondrial encephalomyopathies
;
maternal inheritance
;
isozymes
;
Leigh syndrome
;
MERRF (myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers)
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Defects of cytochromec oxidase (COX) show remarkable clinical, biochemical, and genetic heterogeneity. Clinically, there are two main groups of disorders, one dominated by muscle involvement, the other by brain dysfunction. Biochemically, the enzyme defect may be confined to one or a few tissues (reflecting the existence of tissue-specific isozymes) or affect all tissues. Immunologically reactive enzyme protein is decreased in some forms of COX deficiency but not in others. Because COX is encoded both by nuclear and by mitochondrial genes, COX deficiencies may be due to mutations of either genome and may offer useful models to study the communication between nuclei and mitochondria. We have isolated full-length cDNA clones encoding human COX subunits IV, Vb, and VIII and a partial-length clone for subunit Va. These clones are being used as probes to analyze the DNA and RNA of patients with COX deficiency.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00769637
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