A novel unstable mutation in mitochondrial DNA responsible for maternally inherited diabetes and deafness

The m.3243A>G mutation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is responsible for maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD). Other mtDNA mutations are extremely rare.

We studied a patient presenting with diabetes and deafness who does not carry the m.3243A>G mutation.

We identified a deficiency of respiratory chain complex I in the patient's fibroblasts. mtDNA sequencing revealed a novel mutation that corresponds to an insertion of one or two cytosine residues in the coding region of the MT-ND6 gene (m.14535_14536insC or CC), leading to premature stop codons. This heteroplasmic mutation is unstable in the patient's somatic tissues.

We describe for the first time an unstable mutation in a mitochondrial gene coding for a complex I subunit, which is responsible for the MIDD phenotype. This mutation is likely favored by the m.14530T>C polymorphism, which is homoplasmic and leads to the formation of an 8-bp polyC tract responsible for genetic instability.