MT-ND1 is located in mitochondrial DNA from base pair 3,307 to 4,262. The MT-ND1 gene produces a 36 kDa protein composed of 318 amino acids. MT-ND1 is one of seven mitochondrial genes encoding subunits of the enzyme NADH dehydrogenase, together with MT-ND2, MT-ND3, MT-ND4, MT-ND4L, MT-ND5, and MT-ND6. Also known as Complex I, this enzyme is the largest of the respiratory complexes. The structure is L-shaped with a long, hydrophobictransmembrane domain and a hydrophilic domain for the peripheral arm that includes all the known redox centres and the NADH binding site. The MT-ND1 product and the rest of the mitochondrially encoded subunits are the most hydrophobic of the subunits of Complex I and form the core of the transmembrane region.
Function
MT-ND1-encoded NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 1 is a subunit of the respiratory chain Complex I that is supposed to belong to the minimal assembly of core proteins required to catalyze NADH dehydrogenation and electron transfer to ubiquinone. Initially, NADH binds to Complex I and transfers two electrons to the isoalloxazine ring of the flavin mononucleotideprosthetic arm to form FMNH2. The electrons are transferred through a series of iron-sulfur clusters in the prosthetic arm and finally to coenzyme Q10, which is reduced to ubiquinol. The flow of electrons changes the redox state of the protein, resulting in a conformational change and pK shift of the ionizable side chain, which pumps four hydrogen ions out of the mitochondrial matrix.
Clinical significance
Pathogenic variants of the mitochondrial gene MT-ND1 are known to cause mtDNA-associated Leigh syndrome, as are variants of MT-ATP6, MT-TL1, MT-TK, MT-TW, MT-TV, MT-ND2, MT-ND3, MT-ND4, MT-ND5, MT-ND6 and MT-CO3. Abnormalities in mitochondrial energy generation result in neurodegenerative disorders like Leigh syndrome, which is characterized by an onset of symptoms between 12 months and three years of age. The symptoms frequently present themselves following a viral infection and include movement disorders and peripheral neuropathy, as well as hypotonia, spasticity and cerebellar ataxia. Roughly half of affected individuals die of respiratory or cardiac failure by the age of three. Leigh syndrome is a maternally inherited disorder and its diagnosis is established through genetic testing of the aforementioned mitochondrial genes, including MT-ND1. The m.4171C>A/MT-ND1 mutation also leads to a Leigh-like phenotype as well as bilateral brainstem lesions affecting the vestibular nuclei, resulting in vision loss, vomiting and vertigo. These complex I genes have been associated with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with stroke-like episodes, overlap between LHON and MELAS, and the previously mentioned Leigh syndrome. Mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from variants of MT-ND1, MT-ND2 and MT-ND4L have been linked to BMI in adults and implicated in metabolic disorders including obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
