Abstract
A single cell can contain several thousand copies of the mitochondrial DNA genome or mtDNA. Tools for assessing mtDNA content are necessary for clinical and toxicological research, as mtDNA depletion is linked to genetic disease and drug toxicity. For instance, mtDNA depletion syndromes are typically fatal childhood disorders that are characterized by severe declines in mtDNA content in affected tissues. Mitochondrial toxicity and mtDNA depletion have also been reported in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients treated with certain nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Further, cell culture studies have demonstrated that exposure to oxidative stress stimulates mtDNA degradation. Here we outline a Southern blot and nonradioactive digoxigenin-labeled probe hybridization method to estimate mtDNA content in human genomic DNA samples. © 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Recommended Citation
Wheeler, Joel H, Young, Carolyn K J and Young, Matthew J. "Analysis of Human Mitochondrial DNA Content by Southern Blotting and Nonradioactive Probe Hybridization.." Curr Protoc Toxicol (Apr 2019). doi:10.1002/cptx.75.
Comments
This is the peer reviewed version of the article cited below, which has been published in final form at Current Protocols in Toxicology. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.