The mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes syndrome (MELAS) is a rare congenital disorder of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Herein we report a case of MELAS, whose second stroke-like episode was provoked by chickenpox. A point mutation at nucleotide (nt) 3243 in mtDNA supported the diagnosis of MELAS in this case. History of myopathy, the presence of lesio...

The mitochondrial DNA mutation MTTL1 A3243G causes MELAS syndrome (Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, Stroke-like episodes). The A3243G mutation is also associated with variable endocrinopathies. We describe 2 case histories of patients with the A3243G mutation. The first patient presented with diabetes and uncontrolled Graves’ thyrotoxicosis in association with a strokelike epis...

Anopheles melas is a brackish water mosquito found in coastal West Africa where it is a dominant malaria vector locally. In order to facilitate genetic studies of this species, 45 microsatellite loci originally developed for Anopheles gambiae were sequenced in An. melas. Those that were suitable based on repeat number and flanking regions were examined in 2 natural populations from Equatorial G...

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content is thought to remain stable over the preimplantation period of human embryogenesis that is, therefore, suggested to be entirely dependent on ooplasm mtDNA capital. We have explored the impact of two disease-causing mutations [m.3243A>G myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like syndrome (MELAS) and m.8344A>G myoclonic epilepsy associated with rag...

OBJECTIVES To define the molecular genetic basis of the MELAS phenotype in five patients without any known mutation of mitochondrial DNA. METHODS Systematic automated mitochondrial DNA sequencing of all mitochondrial transfer RNA and cytochrome c oxidase genes was undertaken in five patients who had the MELAS phenotype. RESULTS A novel heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA mutation was identified...

PURPOSE It has been suggested that mitochondrial disease may be responsible for a substantial proportion of strokes of indetermined origin. We have preliminarily screened for MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) mutations in young patients with cryptogenic strokes. METHOD The mitochondrial mutations A3243G and T3271C were investigated in 38 subjec...

Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome has various presentations. We report on a case of MELAS in which alternate-sided homonymous hemianopia was the main symptom of recurrent neurological defects. A 19-year-old woman suffered from blurred vision, headaches, vomiting, and fever that subsided within days. The ophthalmic examination demonstrate...

The selective killing of cancer cells and the avoidance of drug resistance are still difficult challenges in cancer therapy. Here, we report a new strategy that uses enzyme-induced gain of function (EIGF) to regulate the structure and function of phosphorylated melittin analogues (MelAs). Original MelAs have the capacity to disrupt plasma membranes and induce cell death without selectivity. How...

MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosls and stroke-like episodes) is one of a group of heterogeneous yet clinically distinct syndromes ascribed to a defect in mitochondrial function. Here, the case of a patient diagnosed with the 1 Received November 21, 1994. Accepted October 19. 1995. 2 Correspondence to Dr. L Dworkin, Division of Renal Diseases, The Rhode Island Hospital, ...