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Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurological disorder caused by mutations in the X-linked MECP2 gene, which encodes a methyl-CpG binding transcriptional repressor. Using the Mecp2-null mouse (an animal model for RTT) and differential display, we found that mice with neurological symptoms overexpress the nuclear gene for ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein 1 (Uqcrc1). Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that MeCP2 interacts with the Uqcrc1 promoter. Uqcrc1 encodes a subunit of mitochondrial respiratory complex III, and isolated mitochondria from the Mecp2-null brain showed elevated respiration rates associated with respiratory complex III and an overall reduction in coupling. A causal link between Uqcrc1 gene overexpression and enhanced complex III activity was established in neuroblastoma cells. Our findings raise the possibility that mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to pathology of the Mecp2-null mouse and may contribute to the long-known resemblance between Rett syndrome and certain mitochondrial disorders.

Original publication

DOI

10.1128/MCB.01665-05

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cell Biol

Publication Date

07/2006

Volume

26

Pages

5033 - 5042

Keywords

Animals, Brain, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, Disease Models, Animal, Electron Transport Complex III, Gene Expression Regulation, Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2, Mice, Mice, Mutant Strains, Mitochondria, Mitochondrial Diseases, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Rett Syndrome, Transcriptional Activation