Reversibility and tissue specificity of mitochondrial translation defects in early childhood

We have previously identified the molecular genetic cause of a puzzling clinical syndrome, initially termed “benign infantile mitochondrial myopathy due to reversible cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency”. While childhood-onset mitochondrial encephalomyopathies are usually severe, relentlessly progressive conditions with fatal outcome, this syndrome stands out by showing complete (or almost complete) spontaneous recovery. The molecular cause is the homoplasmic m.14674T>C mutation in the mitochondrial mt-tRNA^Glu which impairs mitochondrial translation, as reflected by the COX-negative fibres and the multiple respiratory chain defects in skeletal muscle. The spontaneous recovery of the patients suggests the existence of so far unknown cellular compensatory mechanisms. In this project we investigate, i) why patients with reversible COX deficiency show an isolated muscle involvement, ii) why symptoms start uniformly in the first days or weeks of life, iii) what is the molecular basis of the age-dependent, spontaneous recovery, and iv) which factors influence mitochondrial protein synthesis in human cells, skeletal muscle and different tissues. We will study these factors in v) different types of mitochondrial disease. The long-term goal would be to upregulate or boost compensatory factors in patients with mitochondrial disease with the aim to open new avenues for therapy.