Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy inDrosophila

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Abstract
Mitochondrial encephalomyopathies are common and devastating multisystem genetic disorders characterized by neuromuscular dysfunction and tissue degeneration. Point mutations in the human mitochondrialATP6gene are known to cause several related mitochondrial disorders: NARP (neuropathy, ataxia, and retinitis pigmentosa), MILS (maternally inherited Leigh's syndrome), and FBSN (familial bilateral striatal necrosis). We identified a pathogenic mutation in theDrosophilamitochondrialATP6gene that causes progressive, adult-onset neuromuscular dysfunction and myodegeneration. Our results demonstrate ultrastructural defects in the mitochondrial innermembrane, neural dysfunction, and a marked reduction in mitochondrial ATP synthase activity associated with this mutation. ThisDrosophilamutant recapitulates key features of the human neuromuscular disorders enabling detailedin vivostudies of these enigmatic diseases.