2. Classifications of Mitochondrial Disorders
M.R Ashrafi
Professor of Pediatric Neurology
Children’s Medical Center
Tehran University of Medical Sciences

3. History of Mitochondrial Dis
The first probable human visualization of
mitochondria was in 1841, when intracellular
granules were described using the crude
optics of early microscopes .
The mitochondrion first described as a
cellular organelle by Benda in
The mitochondria involved in multiple
biochemical reactions , though its
chief function is energy production .

4. History of Mitochondrial Dis
The ultrastructure of mitochondria was described in
1952 by Palade , and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was
defined by Nass and Nass in
65 years after recognition of mitochondria
it’s disorders first described by Luft in 1962
in a young Swedish woman with hypermetabolism
and without thyroid dysfunction .

5. History of Mitochondrial Dis
Modified Gomori trichrome stain for RRF
in 1963 by cuningham and Engel .

6. History of Mitochondrial Dis
The correlation between mitochondrial
abnormalities and neurologic syndromes
was first reported in 1972 by Olson .
The term of
“Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies,”
introduced in 1977 by Yehuda Shapira .

7. History of Mitochondrial Dis
The application of specific biochemical assays
led to the description of increasing numbers of
metabolic defects, including :
PDHC deficiency (Blass et al. 1970)
palmitoylcarnitine transferase (DiMauro 1973)
carnitine (Engel and Angelini 1973; Karpati 1975)
complex III of Res chain (Spiro et al. 1970)
complex IV of Res chain (Willems et al. 1977)

8. History of Mitochondrial Dis
Many individuals display a cluster of clinical
features that fall into a discrete clinical
syndromes , such as :
KSS , CPEO [Moraes et al 1989]
MELAS [Hirano et al 1992]
MERRF [Hammans et al 1993]
NARP [Holt et al 1990]
Leigh syndrome [Ciafaloni et al 1993]

9. History of Mitochondrial Dis
In 1985, Salvatore DiMauro et al. proposed a
general biochemical classification of the
mitochondrial diseases based on the five
main steps of mitochondrial metabolism .
Genetic classification of mitochondrial
Diseases proposed in 1993 by
DiMauro et al .

10. Classification of Mitochondrial Disorders
Biochemical Classification
Genetic Classification
Clinical phenotypes

11. Mitochondrial Disorders / Biochemical Classification
The mitochondria are responsible for converting fuels (carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins) into energy for the cells.
Fatty acids are converted into molecules of
acetyl-CoA within the mitochondria.
Amino acids are converted to pyruvate in the mitochondria.
Carbohydrates are metabolized to pyruvate in the cytoplasm and then transported into the mitochondria.
Pyruvate is likewise then converted into acetyl-CoA.

13. Mitochondrial Disorders / Biochemical Classification
The term Mitochondrial disorders was originally proposed to include all the clinical phenotypes associated with primary defects of the mitochondrial energy output :
Fatty acid oxidation disorders
Pyruvate metabolism disorders
Respiratory chain disorders

14. Mitochondrial Disorders / Biochemical Classification

16. Mitochondrial Disorders / Biochemical Classification
However this term is currently restricted to defects of the
terminal component of the mitochondrial energy pathway .
( OXPHOS System )

17. Mitochondrial Disorders / Biochemical Classification
Mitochondrial disorders can be classified according to the metabolic defect present:
(1985, Salvatore DiMauro et al )
1) Substrate transport (e.g., CPT deficiency)
2) Substrate utilization (e.g., PDHC deficiency)
3) Kreb’s cycle (e.g., fumarase deficiency)
4) Oxidation/phosphorylation coupling
(e.g. Luft’s disease)
5) Respiratory chain
[e.g.,cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency]

18. Classification Of The Mitochondrial Disorders
By Metabolic Function Affected

19. Mitochondrial Disorders / Biochemical Classification
However this term is currently restricted to defects of the
terminal component of the mitochondrial energy pathway .
( OXPHOS System )

20. Classification of Mitochondrial Disorders
Biochemical Classification
Genetic Classification
Clinical phenotypes

21. Genetic Classification
Mitochondria is the major site of ATP production
and also contribute to human genetics since it have a
DNA separate from that of nuclear DNA .
It takes about 3000 genes to make a mitochondrion
and only about 3% of these (100 genes) are involved
in the making of ATP .
Mitochondrial DNA encodes just 37 of these genes;
the remaining genes are encoded in the cell nucleus
and the resultant proteins are transported to the
mitochondria.
Mitochondrial DNA is a circular double stranded
molecule of base pairs whose sequence
was determined in

22. Genetic Classification
Approximately 80 proteins make up the respiratory
chain , and Mitochondrial DNA have 37 genes that
encodes two ribosomal RNA , 22 transfer RNA and
13 polypeptides of the respiratory chain and all
others are encoded by nDNA.
Genetic Classification

23. Genetic Classification
Complex II, coenzyme Q, and cytochrome c are
exclusively encoded by nDNA , in contrast, complexes I,
III, IV, and V contain some subunits encoded by mtDNA:
7 for complex I (ND1–ND4, ND4L, ND5, and ND6),
1 for complex III (cytochrome b), 3 for complex IV
(COX I– COX III), and 2 for complex V (ATPase6 and ATPase8).

24. Genetic Classification
Mitochondrial DNA is maternally inherited because in the formation of the zygote , mitochondrial DNA is contributed exclusively by the oocyte .
Maternal inheritance means that a mutant mitochondrial gene can be passed from the mother to her sons and daughters , but only the daughters can pass it on to their sons and daughters.

25. Genetic Classification
If a mutation in mtDNA occurs in the ovum or zygote, it may be passed on randomly to subsequent generations of cells.
Some receive few or no mutant genomes (normal or wild-type Homoplasmy), others receive a mixed population of mutant and wild-type mtDNAs (Heteroplasmy), and others receive primarily or exclusively mutant genomes (mutant Homoplasmy).

26. Genetic Classification
Mitochondrial disorders may be caused by defects of nuclear DNA or mitochondrial DNA .
Diseases caused by defects of mtDNA can be divided into those due to point mutations and those due to deletions or duplications.

27. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of mt DNA
Large-scale rearrangements
( mtDNA Deletions & Duplications )
Large-scale rearrangements of mtDNA can be either partial deletions of mtDNA or less frequently, partial duplications.
Both types are heteroplasmic since they co-exist with normal mtDNA.
The majority of single large-scale rearrangements of
mtDNA are sporadic and are therefore believed to
occur de novo and thus cause disease in one family
member only, with no significant risk to other family
members .

28. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of mt DNA
Large-scale rearrangements
(mtDNA Deletions or Duplication)
Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (KSS)
Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia (PEO)
Pearson's Syndrome
(congenital pancytopenia with sideroblastic anemia, and intestinal
malabsorption due to insufficiency of the exocrine pancreas)

29. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of mt DNA
Point Mutations
Point mutations are clinical entities associated with the substitution of single bases or micro-insertions/micro-deletions in the mtDNA molecule .
Since the first point mutation of mtDNA was described
in 1988, to date, over 150 pathogenic point mutations
have been identified .
Most of which are maternally inherited although some are sporadic and tissue-specific.
They are often, but not always, heteroplasmic .

30. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of mt DNA
Point Mutations
Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)
Neurogenic muscle weakness, Ataxia, Retinitis Pigmentosa (NARP) syndrome
Maternally-Inherited Leigh Syndrome (MILS)
Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes (MELAS)
Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged-Red Fibers (MERRF)
Maternally Inherited Myopathy and Cardiomyopathy (MIMyCa)

31. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of mt DNA
Homoplasmic mtDNA mutations
In contrast to many heteroplasmic mutations, the clinical expression of disorders associated with homoplasmic mutations is often stereotypical and mainly restricted to a single tissue.
LHON
SNHL
( Non-syndromic and aminoglycoside-induced
sensorineural hearing loss ) .

32. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of Nuclear DNA ( Mendelian Transmission)
Disorders due to mutations in nDNA are very numerous not only because most respiratory chain subunits are nucleus-encoded, but also and more importantly because correct structure and functioning of the respiratory chain requires many steps, all of which are under the control of nDNA.

33. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of Nuclear DNA ( Mendelian Transmission )
These are all transmitted by Mendelian inheritance and include two major subgroups.
1- Mutations in genes encoding proteins of
the respiratory chain (structural and
assembly proteins).
2- Defects of intergenomic signaling

34. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of Nuclear DNA
1- Mutations in genes encoding proteins of
the respiratory chain :
Approximately 80 proteins make up the respiratory chain
and only 13 subunits encodes by mtDNA , while nDNA encodes
all subunits of complex II, most subunits of the other four
complexes, as well as CoQ10 and cytochrome c.
A number of mutations , including subunits of complex I and complex II have been identified.
These molecular defects have been mainly associated with AR forms of Leigh syndrome .

35. Genetic Classification of Mitochondrial Diseases
Defects of Nuclear DNA
2- Defects of intergenomic signaling :
The mtDNA is highly dependent for its proper function and replication on numerous factors encoded by nuclear genes.
Mutations in these genes are the cause of Mendelian
disorders characterized by qualitative or quantitative
alterations of mtDNA .
ADPEO , MNGIE , MDS , congenital or childhood
forms of autosomal recessively inherited myopathy
or hepatopathy.

37. Classification of Mitochondrial Disorders
Biochemical Classification
Genetic Classification
Clinical phenotypes

38. Clinical Phenotype Classification /NEUROLOGIC SYNDROMES
Mitochondrial disorders are divided roughly into ragged-red fiber
disorders and non ragged-red fibers ones .
Ragged-red fiber disorders include:
1. Kearns-Sayre syndrome.
2. Mitochondrial Encephalopathy with Lactic Acidosis and
Stroke-like episodes (MELAS).
3. Myoclonic epilepsy with ragged red fibers (MERRF).
4. Progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO).
5. Pearson syndrome.
Non ragged-red fiber disorders include:
1. Leigh encephalopathy.
2. Neuropathy, Ataxia, Retinitis Pigmentosa (NARP).

39. Clinical Phenotype Classification /NEUROLOGIC SYNDROMES
MELAS
Leigh ( SNE )
MERRF ( Fukuhara )
LHON
MNGIE ( Nirano )
NARP ( Holt )
CPEO / KSS
ARCO
DIDMOAD ( Wolfram )
LIMD ( Boustany- Moreas )
MLASA
Nonspecific Syndromes are more common

40. Clinical Phenotype Classification /NEUROLOGIC SYNDROMES

41. During a two-year period , 62 patients with the probable diagnosis
of mitochondrial disorders were evaluated for clinical and paraclinical
findings .
LS was the most prevalent specific syndrome (15 cases ) .
Nonspecific syndromes were seen in 37 patients .

42. Thank you for your attention