13 Prior studies of mitochondrial genomic variation reveal that the Japanese brown frog Rana 14 tagoi comprises a complex of cryptic species lineages, and that R. sakuraii arose from within 15 this complex. Neither species forms a monophyletic group on the mitochondrial haplotype tree, 16 precluding a simple explanation for the evolutionary origins of R. sakuraii. We present a more 17 complete ...

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) cause autosomal-dominant familial Parkinson's disease. We generated lines of Caenorhabditis elegans expressing neuronally directed human LRRK2. Expressing human LRRK2 increased nematode survival in response to rotenone or paraquat, which are agents that cause mitochondrial dysfunction. Protection by G2019S, R1441C, or kinase-dead LRRK2 was less ...

BACKGROUND Mitochondrial dysfunction participates in the progression of several pathologies. Although there is increasing evidence for a mitochondrial role in liver disease, little is known about its contribution to hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. In this study we investigated the role of mitochondrial activity through mild uncoupling during in vitro activation of HSCs. METHODS Cultur...

Mitochondrial DNA remains one of the most widely used molecular markers to reconstruct the phylogeny and phylogeography of closely related birds. It has been proposed that bird mitochondrial genomes evolve at a constant rate of ~0.01 substitution per site per million years, that is that they evolve according to a strict molecular clock. This molecular clock is often used in studies of bird mito...

INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease with a gender bias towards major prevalence in male individuals. Several data suggest the involvement of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in its pathogenesis, though differences between genders have not been evaluated. For this reason, we analysed features of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, as well as m...

Obesity has been related to a chronic pro-inflammatory state affecting white adipose tissue (WAT), which has a great impact on carbohydrate, lipid and energy metabolism. In turn, the dysregulation of adipokine secretion derived from the accumulation of excess lipids in adipocytes further contributes to the development of insulin resistance and can be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. T...

The ambersnails (Succineidae), found nearly worldwide, are considered a very challenging group to classify and identify with even genus-level identifications requiring dissection. In this study, we use mitochondrial nuclear DNA markers, shell morphometrics, anatomical dissection examine fresh material collected from the type localities of two nominal species in Oxyloma (Neoxyloma). We conclude ...

Mitochondrial dysfunction following traumatic brain and spinal cord injury (TBI and SCI) plays a pivotal role in the development of secondary pathophysiology and subsequent neuronal cell death. Previously, we demonstrated a loss of mitochondrial bioenergetics in the first 24 h following TBI and SCI initiates a rapid and extensive necrotic event at the primary site of injury. Within the mitochon...

by MARISA TUNGSIRIPAT Background: Lipoatrophy, subcutaneous fat wasting, is a stigmatizing complication of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Thiazolidenediones are potent PPARγ agonists and expected to reverse lipoatrophy. Methods: We evaluated rosiglitazone’s effect on several facets of lipoatrophy: 1) limb fat, 2) surrogate markers cardiovascular disease, and 3) mechanistic measures. We conducted...

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Chloroplast and mitochondrial microsatellites were identified to study the population genetics of Millettia pinnata (Fabaceae). METHODS AND RESULTS Based on publicly available plastid genome sequence data of M. pinnata, 42 primer pairs were developed, of which 17 displayed polymorphisms across 89 individuals from four populations. For chloroplast loci, two to six alleles ...