Leigh syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous disease caused by defects in enzymes involved in aerobic energy metabolism and the Krebs' cycle. Deficiency of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E1 alpha subunit (PDHA1) is the common cause of Leigh syndrome. In this study, one Chinese case of PDHA1 deficiency was reported. The patient was a boy with normal mental development, retarded motor development, general weakness, hypotonia and areflexia. Muscle histopathological findings suggested axonal peripheral neuropathy. Brain magnetic resonance imaging at 5 years of age revealed bilateral putamina lesions and periventricular white matter demyelination, supporting the diagnosis of Leigh syndrome. A C214T mutation in exon 3 of the PDHA1 gene was detected. After the treatment of thiamin, coenzyme Q10, Lcarnitine and carbohydrates-restricted diet, his movement ability improved significantly. At present, the patient is 8 years old and has normal school life. PDHA1 deficiency is an X-linked inherited metabolic disease, which shares various clinical manifestations and leads to difficult diagnosis. This patient predominately presented with progressive weakness and was diagnosed by gene analysis.
Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leigh Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Male ; Mutation ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide) ; genetics

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) is an emerging target for the treatment of metabolic syndrome. To maintain a steady-state concentration of adenosine triphosphate during the feed-fast cycle, cells require efficient utilization of fatty acid and glucose, which is controlled by the PDC. The PDC converts pyruvate, coenzyme A (CoA), and oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) into acetyl-CoA, reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and carbon dioxide. The activity of the PDC is up- and down-regulated by pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase, respectively. In addition, pyruvate is a key intermediate of glucose oxidation and an important precursor for the synthesis of glucose, glycerol, fatty acids, and nonessential amino acids.
Acetyl Coenzyme A ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; Amino Acids ; Carbon Dioxide ; Coenzyme A ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fatty Acids ; Glucose ; Glycerol ; NAD ; Obesity* ; Oxidoreductases* ; Phosphotransferases* ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)-Phosphatase ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex ; Pyruvic Acid*

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular genetic mechanism and genetic diagnosis of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PHD), and to provide a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal genetic diagnosis of PHD.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the 11 exons and exon junction of the PDHA1 gene from a child who was diagnosed with PHD based on clinical characteristics and laboratory examination results. The PCR products were sequenced to determine the mutation. An analysis of amino acid conservation and prediction of protein secondary and tertiary structure were performed using bioinformatic approaches to identify the pathogenicity of the novel mutation.

RESULTSOne novel duplication mutation, c.1111_1158dup48bp, was found in the exon 11 of the PDHA1 gene of the patient. No c.1111_1158dup48bp mutation was detected in the sequencing results from 50 normal controls. The results of protein secondary and tertiary structure prediction showed that the novel mutation c.1111 _1158dup48bp led to the duplication of 16 amino acids residues, serine371 to phenylalanine386, which induced a substantial change in protein secondary and tertiary structure. The conformational change was not detected in the normal controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe novel duplication mutation c.1111_1158dup48bp in the PDHA1 gene is not due to gene polymorphisms but a possible novel pathogenic mutation for PHD.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Protein Conformation ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide) ; chemistry ; genetics ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency Disease ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics and genetype of one children who had been diagnosed with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency.

METHODComprehensive analyses of this case were performed, including clinical symptoms, signs, biochemical examinations and therapeutic effects. The eleven exons and splicing areas of PDHA1 were amplified with genomic DNA from whole blood. And variations were investigated by sequencing the PCR product. The patient was diagnosed with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency by sequence analysis of PDHA1 gene.

RESULTThe patient was a 2 years and 4 monthes old boy. He presented with muscle hypotonia and weakness for one year, and experienced recurrent episodes of unstable head control, unable to sit by himself or stand without support, with persistently hyperlactacidemia. Metabolic testing revealed blood lactate 5.37 mmol/L, pyruvate 0.44 mmol/L, and lactate/pyruvate ratio was 12.23. MRI of the brain showed hyperintense signals on the T2 and T2 Flair weighted images in the basal ganglia bilaterally. Sequence analysis of PDHA1 gene showed a G>A point mutation at nucleotide 778, resulting in a substitution of glutarnine for arginine at position 263 (R263Q). And the diagnosis of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency was identified. By giving the therapy with ketogenic diet, vitamin B(1), coenzyme Q(10) and L-carnitine , the boy was in a stable condition.

CONCLUSIONThe severity and the clinical phenotypes of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency varied. Sequence analysis of PDHA1 gene revealed a 788G>A (R263Q) mutation. Patients who presented with unexplained muscle hypotonia, weakness and hyperlactacidemia could be diveded by gene analysis. And appropriate treatment can improve the quality of life.

Brain ; Carnitine ; Child, Preschool ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide) ; genetics ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Pyruvic Acid

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) deficiency is mostly due to mutations in the X-linked E1alpha subunit gene (PDHA1). Some of the patients with PDHC deficiency showed clinical improvements with thiamine treatment. We report the results of biochemical and molecular analysis in a female patient with lactic acidemia. The PDHC activity was assayed at different concentrations of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). The PDHC activity showed null activity at low TPP concentration (1 x 10(-3) mM), but significantly increased at a high TPP concentration (1 mM). Sequencing analysis of PDHA1 gene of the patient revealed a substitution of cysteine for tyrosine at position 161 (Y161C). Thiamine treatment resulted in reduction of the patient's serum lactate concentration and dramatic clinical improvement. Biochemical, molecular, and clinical data suggest that this patient has a thiamine-responsive PDHC deficiency due to a novel mutation, Y161C. Therefore, to detect the thiamine responsiveness it is necessary to measure activities of PDHC not only at high but also at low concentration of TPP.
Thiamine Pyrophosphate/metabolism ; Thiamine/*therapeutic use ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency Disease/drug therapy/*genetics ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)/*genetics ; *Point Mutation ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Female ; Cells, Cultured

Mitochondria are crucial for maintaining the properties of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and for regulating their subsequent differentiation into diverse cell lineages, including cardiomyocytes. However, mitochondrial regulators that manage the rate of differentiation or cell fate have been rarely identified. This study aimed to determine the potential mitochondrial factor that controls the differentiation of ESCs into cardiac myocytes. We induced cardiomyocyte differentiation from mouse ESCs (mESCs) and performed microarray assays to assess messenger RNA (mRNA) expression changes at differentiation day 8 (D8) compared with undifferentiated mESCs (D0). Among the differentially expressed genes, Pdp1 expression was significantly decreased (27-fold) on D8 compared to D0, which was accompanied by suppressed mitochondrial indices, including ATP levels, membrane potential, ROS and mitochondrial Ca²⁺. Notably, Pdp1 overexpression significantly enhanced the mitochondrial indices and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and reduced the expression of cardiac differentiation marker mRNA and the cardiac differentiation rate compared to a mock control. In confirmation of this, a knockdown of the Pdp1 gene promoted the expression of cardiac differentiation marker mRNA and the cardiac differentiation rate. In conclusion, our results suggest that mitochondrial PDP1 is a potential regulator that controls cardiac differentiation at an early differentiation stage in ESCs.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Cell Lineage ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; Membrane Potentials ; Mice* ; Mitochondria ; Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells* ; Myocytes, Cardiac* ; Oxidoreductases ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)-Phosphatase* ; Pyruvic Acid* ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Shenmai injection on myocardial cells with oxidative injury and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) was used to induce the oxidative stress in H9c2 myocardial cells. The cell viability and ATP level were evaluated using MTT-colorimetric method and CellTiter-Glo luminescent cell viability assay. The oxygen respiration rate was examined by Clark oxygen electrode. Pyruvate and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) levels were evaluated by ELISA kit. Western blot and quantitative real-time RT-PCR were employed to evaluate the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase alpha 1(PDHA1) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1(PDK1). RESULTS: Shenmai injection significantly improved viability and respiration of H9c2 myocardial cells after t-BHP injury (<0.05 or <0.01). It increased ATP contents by consuming pyruvate and increasing PDH level (<0.05 or <0.01). Furthermore, Shenmai injection had the tendency to increase protein expression of PDHA1(<0.05) and decrease mRNA expression of PDK1 (>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Shenmai injection protects mitochondria from oxidative stress by increasing PDH level, which indicates that it may improve energy metabolism of myocardial cells.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide) ; genetics ; Rats

This review summarizes the recent developments on the regulation of human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) by site-specific phosphorylation by four kinases. Mutagenic analysis of the three phosphorylation sites of human pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) showed the site-independent mechanism of phosphorylation as well as site-independent dephosphorylation of the three phosphorylation sites and the importance of each phosphorylation site for the inactivation of E1. Both the negative charge and size of the group introduced at site 1 were involved in human E1 inactivation. Mechanism of inactivation of E1 was suggested to be site-specific. Phosphorylation of site 1 affected E1 interaction with the lipoyl domain of dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase, whereas phosphorylation site 3 appeared to be closer to the thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)-binding region affecting coenzyme interaction with human E1. Four isoenzymes of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) showed different specificity for the three phosphorylation sites of E1. All four PDKs phosphorylated sites 1 and 2 in PDC with different rates, and only PDK1 phosphorylated site 3. PDK2 was maximally stimulated by the reduction/acetylation of the lipoyl groups of E2. Presence of the multiple phosphorylation sites and isoenzymes of PDK is important for the tissue-specific regulation of PDC under different physiological conditions.
Acetylation ; Binding Sites ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Human ; Isoenzymes/*metabolism ; Kinetics ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (Lipoamide)/metabolism ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism ; Substrate Specificity ; Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. ; Thiamine Pyrophosphate/metabolism