[Nucleotide modification of mitochondrial tRNA and mitochondrial diseases]

A high proportion of modified nucleotides has been found in mitochondrial tRNA. Such modification can promote accurate folding of tRNA and its stability, while unmodified mitochondrial tRNA may fold into various 2D-structures with impaired functions. Therefore, modification of mitochondrial tRNA is closely related to mitochondrial diseases. Particularly, positions 9, 34, 37, 54 and 55 of the mitochondrial tRNA are critical for such modification. Mutations at these positions are important cause for mitochondrial dysfunction and have been associated with various mitochondrial diseases.