[Molecular genetics of mitochondria and diabetes]

The molecular genetics of mitochondria relevant to NIDDM is described, because the mutations in mitochondrial DNA cause diabetes. The non-Mendelian genetics, including maternal inheritance, heteroplasmy, stochastic segregation are characteristic of mitochondrial gene. Since aging causes rapid loss of mitochondrial function, which results in the retardation of insulin secretion via ATP-sensitive K-channel. This loss is not caused by the age-dependent mutation in the mitochondrial DNA, but by a nuclear aging, perhaps accompanied by the shortening of telomere. This was shown by the cybrid experiment. The aged mitochondria in cytoplasts are transferred to immortal rho = cells (cells devoid of mitochondrial DNA) and restored its oxidative and transcriptional activities (J. Biol. Chem. 269:6878, 1994). Thus, the control mechanism of transcription in mitochondria has been analyzed. The genes for mitochondrial transcription factor (mtTF1) an MRP-RNA have been sequenced and their regulatory elements are found (BBRC 194:544, 1993 etc.) The mutations in mitochondrial DNA that cause diabetes have been found, and from the stochastic segregation of the heteroplasmic mutated mitochondrial DNA, we could explain why the MELAS mutation is concentrated in some tissue (J. Neurol. Sci. 120:174, 1993). Although there have been many reports on the mitochondrial mutations found in diabetic patients, we have to be careful on polymorphism (J. Biol. Chem. in press).