Mutation m.3395A > G in MT-ND1 leads to variable pathologic manifestations.

A non-synonymous mtDNA mutation, m.3395A > G, which changes tyrosine in position 30 to cysteine in p.MT-ND1, was found in several patients with a wide range of clinical phenotypes such as deafness, diabetes and cerebellar syndrome but no Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. Although this mutation has already been described, its pathogenicity has not been demonstrated. Here, it was found isolated for the first time, allowing a study to investigate its pathogenicity. To do so, we constructed cybrid cell lines and carried out a functional study to assess the possible consequences of the mutation on mitochondrial bioenergetics. Results obtained demonstrated that this mutation causes an important dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain with a decrease in both activity and quantity of complex I due to a diminution of p.MT-ND1 quantity. However, no subcomplexes were found in cybrids carrying the mutation, indicating that the quality of the complex I assembly is not affected. Moreover, based on the crystal structure of p.MT-ND1 and the data found in the literature, we propose a hypothesis for the mechanism of the degradation of p.MT-ND1. Our study provides new insights into the pathophysiology of mitochondrial diseases and in particular of MT-ND1 mutations.

Cellar-Associated Saccharomyces cerevisiae Population Structure Revealed High-Level Diversity and Perennial Persistence at Sauternes Wine Estates.

UNLABELLED: Three wine estates (designated A, B, and C) were sampled in Sauternes, a typical appellation of the Bordeaux wine area producing sweet white wine. From those wine estates, 551 yeast strains were collected between 2012 and 2014, added to 102 older strains from 1992 to 2011 from wine estate C. All the strains were analyzed through 15 microsatellite markers, resulting in 503 unique Saccharomyces cerevisiae genotypes, revealing high genetic diversity and a low presence of commercial yeast starters. Population analysis performed using Fst genetic distance or ancestry profiles revealed that the two closest wine estates, B and C, which have juxtaposed vineyard plots and common seasonal staff, share more related isolates with each other than with wine estate A, indicating exchange between estates. The characterization of isolates collected 23 years ago at wine estate C in relation to recent isolates obtained at wine estate B revealed the long-term persistence of isolates. Last, during the 2014 harvest period, a temporal succession of ancestral subpopulations related to the different batches associated with the selective picking of noble rotted grapes was highlighted. IMPORTANCE: High genetic diversity of S. cerevisiae isolates from spontaneous fermentation on wine estates in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux was revealed. Only 7% of all Sauternes strains were considered genetically related to specific commercial strains. The long-term persistence (over 20 years) of S. cerevisiae profiles on a given wine estate is highlighted.

Microsatellite analysis of Saccharomyces uvarum diversity.

Considered as a sister species of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. uvarum is, to a lesser extent, an interesting species for fundamental and applied research studies. Despite its potential interest as a new gene pool for fermenting agents, the intraspecific molecular genetic diversity of this species is still poorly investigated. In this study, we report the use of nine microsatellite markers to describe S. uvarum genetic diversity and population structure among 108 isolates from various geographical and substrate origins (wine, cider and natural sources). Our combined microsatellite markers set allowed differentiating 89 genotypes. In contrast to S. cerevisiae genetic diversity, wild and human origin isolates were intertwined. A total of 75% of strains were proven to be homozygotes and estimated heterozygosity suggests a selfing rate above 0.95 for the different population tested here. From this point of view, the S. uvarum life cycle appears to be more closely related to S. paradoxus or S. cerevisiae of natural resources than S. cerevisiae wine isolates. Population structure could not be correlated to distinct geographic or technological origins, suggesting lower differentiation that may result from a large exchange between human and natural populations mediated by insects or human activities.

Novel mitochondrial DNA mutations responsible for maternally inherited nonsyndromic hearing loss.

Some cases of maternally inherited isolated deafness are caused by mtDNA mutations, frequently following an exposure to aminoglycosides. Two mitochondrial genes have been clearly described as being affected by mutations responsible for this pathology: the ribosomal RNA 12S gene and the transfer RNA serine (UCN) gene. A previous study identified several candidate novel mtDNA mutations, localized in a variety of mitochondrial genes, found in patients with no previous treatment with aminoglycosides. Five of these candidate mutations are characterized in the present study. These mutations are localized in subunit ND1 of complex I of the respiratory chain (m.3388C>A [p.MT-ND1:Leu28Met]), the tRNA for Isoleucine (m.4295A>G), subunit COII of complex IV (m.8078G>A [p.MT-CO2:Val165Ile]), the tRNA of Serine 2 (AGU/C) (m.12236G>A), and Cytochrome B, subunit of complex III (m.15077G>A [p.MT-CYB:Glu111Lys]). Cybrid cell lines have been constructed for each of the studied mtDNA mutations and functional studies have been performed to assess the possible consequences of these mutations on mitochondrial bioenergetics. This study shows that a variety of mitochondrial genes, including protein-coding genes, can be responsible for nonsyndromic deafness, and that exposure to aminoglycosides is not required to develop the disease, giving new insights on the molecular bases of this pathology.

Quantifying the effect of human practices on S. cerevisiae vineyard metapopulation diversity.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the main actor of wine fermentation but at present, still little is known about the factors impacting its distribution in the vineyards. In this study, 23 vineyards and 7 cellars were sampled over 2 consecutive years in the Bordeaux and Bergerac regions. The impact of geography and farming system and the relation between grape and vat populations were evaluated using a collection of 1374 S. cerevisiae merlot grape isolates and 289 vat isolates analyzed at 17 microsatellites loci. A very high genetic diversity of S. cerevisiae strains was obtained from grape samples, higher in conventional farming system than in organic one. The geographic appellation and the wine estate significantly impact the S. cerevisiae population structure, whereas the type of farming system has a weak global effect. When comparing cellar and vineyard populations, we evidenced the tight connection between the two compartments, based on the high proportion of grape isolates (25%) related to the commercial starters used in the cellar and on the estimation of bidirectional geneflows between the vineyard and the cellar compartments.

SSU1 Checkup, a Rapid Tool for Detecting Chromosomal Rearrangements Related to the SSU1 Promoter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: An Ecological and Technological Study on Wine Yeast.

Chromosomal rearrangements (CR) such as translocations, duplications and inversions play a decisive role in the adaptation of microorganisms to specific environments. In enological Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, CR involving the promoter region of the gene SSU1 lead to a higher sulfite tolerance by enhancing the SO2 efflux. To date, three different SSU1 associated CR events have been described, including translocations XV-t-XVI and VIII-t-XVI and inversion inv-XVI. In the present study, we developed a multiplex PCR method (SSU1 checkup) that allows a rapid characterization of these three chromosomal configurations in a single experiment. Nearly 600 S. cerevisiae strains collected from fermented grape juice were genotyped by microsatellite markers. We demonstrated that alleles of the SSU1 promoter are differently distributed according to the wine environment (cellar versus vineyard) and the nature of the grape juice. Moreover, rearranged SSU1 promoters are significantly enriched among commercial starters. In addition, the analysis of nearly isogenic strains collected in wine related environments demonstrated that the inheritance of these CR shapes the genetic diversity of clonal populations. Finally, the link between the nature of SSU1 promoter and the tolerance to sulfite was statistically validated in natural grape juice containing various SO2 concentrations. The SSU1 checkup is therefore a convenient new tool for addressing population genetics questions and for selecting yeast strains by using molecular markers.

Mutation rate switch inside Eurasian mitochondrial haplogroups: impact of selection and consequences for dating settlement in Europe.

R-lineage mitochondrial DNA represents over 90% of the European population and is significantly present all around the planet (North Africa, Asia, Oceania, and America). This lineage played a major role in migration "out of Africa" and colonization in Europe. In order to determine an accurate dating of the R lineage and its sublineages, we analyzed 1173 individuals and complete mtDNA sequences from Mitomap. This analysis revealed a new coalescence age for R at 54.500 years, as well as several limitations of standard dating methods, likely to lead to false interpretations. These findings highlight the association of a striking under-accumulation of synonymous mutations, an over-accumulation of non-synonymous mutations, and the phenotypic effect on haplogroup J. Consequently, haplogroup J is apparently not a Neolithic group but an older haplogroup (Paleolithic) that was subjected to an underestimated selective force. These findings also indicated an under-accumulation of synonymous and non-synonymous mutations localized on coding and non-coding (HVS1) sequences for haplogroup R0, which contains the major haplogroups H and V. These new dates are likely to impact the present colonization model for Europe and confirm the late glacial resettlement scenario.