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Aging Methods and Protocols pp 245–264Cite as

Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine ((MIMM,volume 38))

abstract

Although the precise mechanisms of the aging process remain poorly understood, a plausible theory for cellular dysfunction and deterioration during aging involves mitochondria (1, 2). The major function of mitochondria is to generate energy for cellular processes in the form of ATP by oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondria contain their own DNA (mtDNA), a small 16.5 kb circular molecule that encodes 13 essential polypeptides of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, as well as 2 rRNAs and 22 tRNAs required for intramitochondrial protein synthesis (3). The mitochondrial respiratory chain is a series of five, multisubunit protein complexes located within the inner mitochondrial membrane. The first four of these (complexes I-IV) reoxidize reduced cofactors (NADH and FADH2) generated by the oxidation of foodstuffs, thereby generating an electrochemical gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane which is harnessed by the fifth complex, the ATP synthetase, to drive the formation of ATP.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, The Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Robert W. Taylor, Theresa M. Wardell, Emma L. Blakely, Gillian M. Borthwick & Douglass M. Turnbull

  2. Departments of Neurology and Geriatric Medicine, The Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Elizabeth J. Brierley

Authors
  1. Robert W. Taylor
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  2. Theresa M. Wardell
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  3. Emma L. Blakely
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  4. Gillian M. Borthwick
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  5. Elizabeth J. Brierley
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland

    Yvonne A. Barnett  & Christopher R. Barnett  & 

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© 2000 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Taylor, R.W., Wardell, T.M., Blakely, E.L., Borthwick, G.M., Brierley, E.J., Turnbull, D.M. (2000). Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations. In: Barnett, Y.A., Barnett, C.R. (eds) Aging Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol 38. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-070-5:245

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-070-5:245

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-582-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-070-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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