Mutations in TMEM70 gene represent the most frequent cause of isolated deficiency of mitochondrial ATP synthase resulting in a severe neonatal encephalo-cardiomyopathy. Quantitative analysis of respiratory chain complexes and intramitochondrial proteases was performed in the patient cells with 317-2A>G homozygous mutation in TMEM70 gene.
SDS- and BN-PAGE Western blot analysis revealed a significant 82–89% decrease of ATP synthase and 50–162% increase of respiratory chain complex IV and 22–53% increase of complex III, whereas the content of Lon protease, paraplegin and prohibitins 1 and 2 was not significantly changed. Whole genome expression profiling revealed posttranscriptional origin of the observed adaptive changes in mitochondrial respiratory chain.