If myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF) syndrome is caused by at least one of four point mutations in mitochondrial DNA, then curing the disease should be as easy as giving new mitochondria to patients. However, this is a theoretical treatment easier said then done because delivering mitochondria…
A collaborative team of German and Italian researchers from the Institute of Human Genetics (Neuherberg) and the Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carettere Scientifico (Milan) identified mutations in the COQ4 gene that are responsible for the early-onset of mitochondrial diseases. The study entitled “COQ4 Mutations…
Children with mitochondrial disorders most commonly are deficient in cytochrome c oxidase (CIV), a protein involved in the electron transport chain the membrane of the mitochondria. The gold standard way of diagnosing CIV deficiency is taking a muscle biopsy and conducting a biochemical analysis on the tissue. Small children…
A simple blood or urine test, rather than an invasive muscle biopsy, may be all that is needed to diagnose mitochondrial disease in patients with peripheral neuropathy (muscle weakness or a pricking sensation in the extremities) and progressive external…
Get regular updates to your inbox.