mitochondrial dna - all things bad?

From: Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Date: Sun Nov 14 1999 - 12:32:35 MST


Authors
  Lightowlers RN. Jacobs HT. Kajander OA.
Institution
  Dept of Neurology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Medical School,
  Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Title
  Mitochondrial DNA--all
  things bad?. [Review] [27 refs]
Source
  Trends in Genetics. 15(3):91-3, 1999 Mar.
Abstract
  Mutations in mitochondrial DNA
  (mtDNA) are undoubtedly associated with a diverse spectrum
  of human disorders. More controversially, it has been
  claimed that they accumulate during ageing, and that they are responsible for
  an age-related decline in bioenergetic function and tissue viability. Here,
  we review the evidence for this assertion, concluding that claims for the
  age-accumulation of mtDNA mutations are based largely on
  non-quantitative methods, and that no clear, functional deficit of
  mitochondrial respiration has been shown to result from such
  lesions in aged individuals. The mitochondrial theory of
  ageing, however attractive in principle, is supported by very little hard
  evidence. [References: 27]



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