ABSENCE OF THE MITOCHONDRIAL A7237T MUTATION IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

In recent years much has been speculated about a pathogenic role of mi tochondrial defects in Parkinson's disease. Ozawa et al. (BBRC 176, 93 8-946, 1991) have described an A/T transversion at nucleotide 7237 of mitochondrial DNA affecting cytochrome-c-oxidase (complex IV) of the r espiratory chain that could contribute to the pathogenesis of PD. Empl oying PCR based genomic sequencing and restriction enzyme analysis on 19 cases of Lewy-body parkinsonism, we exclude this mutation as a comm on cause of Parkinson's disease. This demonstrates the need for system atic sequencing of the mitochondrial genome in a large number of histo logically verified cases of Parkinson's disease. (C) 1995 Academic Pre ss, Inc.