抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

http://ggdpathway.wustl.edu/files/2014/08/ACMG-Guidelines-2015_Richards-et-al.pdf

Standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants: a joint consensus recommendation of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology.

We present here a framework for the study of molecular variation within a single species. Information on DNA haplotype divergence is incorporated into an analysis of variance format, derived from a matrix of squared-distances among all pairs of haplotypes. This analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) produces estimates of variance components and F-statistic analogs, designated here as phi-statistics, reflecting the correlation of haplotypic diversity at different levels of hierarchical subdivision. The method is flexible enough to accommodate several alternative input matrices, corresponding to different types of molecular data, as well as different types of evolutionary assumptions, without modifying the basic structure of the analysis. The significance of the variance components and phi-statistics is tested using a permutational approach, eliminating the normality assumption that is conventional for analysis of variance but inappropriate for molecular data. Application of AMOVA to human mitochondrial DNA haplotype data shows that population subdivisions are better resolved when some measure of molecular differences among haplotypes is introduced into the analysis. At the intraspecific level, however, the additional information provided by knowing the exact phylogenetic relations among haplotypes or by a nonlinear translation of restriction-site change into nucleotide diversity does not significantly modify the inferred population genetic structure. Monte Carlo studies show that site sampling does not fundamentally affect the significance of the molecular variance components. The AMOVA treatment is easily extended in several different directions and it constitutes a coherent and flexible framework for the statistical analysis of molecular data.

/pdf/analysis-of-molecular-variance-inferred-from-metric-89hl32sg7j.pdf

Analysis of molecular variance inferred from metric distances among DNA haplotypes: application to human mitochondrial DNA restriction data.

Statistical method for testing the neutral mutation hypothesis by DNA polymorphism.

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence was determined on 3 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibiting AD plus Parkinson's disease (PD) neuropathologic changes and one patient with PD. Patient mtDNA sequences were compared to the standard Cambridge sequence to identify base changes. In the first AD+PD patient, 2 of the 15 nucleotide substitutions may contribute to the neuropathology, a nucleotide pair (np) 4336 transition in the tRNA(Gln) gene found 7.4 times more frequently in patients than in controls, and a unique np 721 transition in the 12S rRNA gene which was not found in 70 other patients or 905 controls. In the second AD+PD patient, 27 nucleotide substitutions were detected, including an np 3397 transition in the ND1 gene which converts a conserved methionine to a valine. In the third AD+PD patient, 2 polymorphic base substitutions frequently found at increased frequency in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy patients were observed, an np 4216 transition in ND1 and an np 13708 transition in the ND5 gene. For the PD patient, 2 novel variants were observed among 25 base substitutions, an np 1709 substitution in the 16S rRNA gene and an np 15851 missense mutation in the cytb gene. Further studies will be required to demonstrate a causal role for these base substitutions in neurodegenerative disease.

Mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis of four Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease patients

Differences of sperm motility in mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U sublineages.

Mutations in mitochondrial genes encoded by both mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA have been implicated in a wide range of degenerative diseases. MtDNA base substitution and rearrangement mutations can cause myopathy, cardiomyopathy, ophthalmological defects, growth retardation, movement disorders, dementias, and diabetes. nDNA mutations can affect mtDNA replication and transcription, increase mtDNA mutations through defects in the adenine nucleotide translocator isoform 1 (ANT1), or cause Leigh's syndrome, as a result of defects in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) structural genes. Mouse models of mtDNA base substitution mutations have been created by introducing the mtDNA 16S rRNA chloramphenicol (CAP)-resistance mutation into the mouse female germline. This resulted in ophthalmological defects in chimeras and perinatal lethality resulting from myopathy and cardiomyopathy in mutant animals. Mouse models of mtDNA rearrangements have resulted in animals with myopathy, cardiomyopathy, and nephropathy. Conditional inactivation of the mouse nDNA mitochondrial transcription factor (Tfam) gene in the heart caused neonatal lethal cardiomyopathy, whereas its inactivation in the pancreatic beta-cells caused diabetes. Mutational inactivation of the mouse Ant1 gene resulted in myopathy, cardiomyopathy, and multiple mtDNA deletions in association with elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This suggests that multiple mtDNA deletion syndrome can be caused by increased ROS damage. The inactivation of the uncoupler protein genes (Ucp) 1-3 resulted in alterations in delta mu H+ and increased ROS production. Inactivation of the Ucp2 gene, which is expressed in the pancreatic beta-cells, resulted in increased islet ATP, increased serum insulin levels, and suppression of the diabetes of the ob/ob mouse genotype. Transgenic mice with altered beta-cell ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP) also developed diabetes. Mutational inactivation of the mitochondrial antioxidant genes for glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) and Mn superoxide dismutase (Sod2) caused reduced energy production and neonatal lethal dilated cardiomyopathy, respectively, the later being ameliorated by treatment with MnSOD mimics. Partial Sod2 deficiency (+/-) resulted in mice with increased mitochondrial damage during aging, and treatment of C. elegans with catalytic antioxidant drugs can extend their life-span. Mice deficient in cytochrome-c died early in embryogenesis, but cells derived from these embryos had a complete deficiency in mitochondrial apoptosis. Mice lacking the proapoptotic Bax and Bak genes were not able to release cytochrome-c from the mitochondrion and were blocked in apoptosis. Mice lacking Apaf1, Cas9, and Cas3 did release mitochondrial cytochrome-c and were blocked in the downstream steps of apoptosis. These animal studies confirm that alterations in mitochondrial energy generation, ROS production, and apoptosis can all contribute to the pathophysiology of mitochondrial disease.

Douglas C. Wallace

Papers

Mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis of four Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease patients

Differences of sperm motility in mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U sublineages.

Animal models for mitochondrial disease.

mtDNA variation, climatic adaptation, degenerative diseases, and longevity.

Association between mitochondrial DNA variations and Alzheimer's Disease in the ADNI cohort