Neurological phenotype and reduced lifespan in heterozygous Tim23 knockout mice, the first mouse model of defective mitochondrial import

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 May;1787(5):371-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2008.12.001. Epub 2008 Dec 9.

Abstract

The Tim23 protein is the key component of the mitochondrial import machinery. It locates to the inner mitochondrial membrane and its own import is dependent on the DDP1/TIM13 complex. Mutations in human DDP1 cause the Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome (MTS/DFN-1; OMIM #304700), which is one of the two known human diseases of the mitochondrial protein import machinery. We created a Tim23 knockout mouse from a gene trap embryonic stem cell clone. Homozygous Tim23 mice were not viable. Heterozygous F1 mutants showed a 50% reduction of Tim23 protein in Western blot, a neurological phenotype and a markedly reduced life span. Haploinsufficiency of the Tim23 mutation underlines the critical role of the mitochondrial import machinery for maintaining mitochondrial function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastocyst / physiology
  • Forelimb / physiology
  • Genotype
  • Hand Strength
  • Humans
  • Life Expectancy*
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria / genetics*
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / deficiency
  • Mitochondrial Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation*
  • Orofaciodigital Syndromes / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • Rotarod Performance Test

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Precursor Protein Import Complex Proteins
  • Mitochondrial Proteins
  • TIMM8A protein, human
  • Timm23 protein, mouse