Epigenetic Modifications of Mitochondrial DNA in Liver Disease: Focus on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

SILVIA SOOKOIAN; CARLOS JOSE PIROLA

Mitochondria in Liver Disease

Taylor and Francis

Lugar: London; Año: 2015; p. 311 - 321

It is well known that defects of the mitochondrial genome are responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) critically controls the mitochondrial gene expression machinery. Until very recently, mutations and deletions of mtDNA were the only mechanisms to explain changes in the transcriptional mitochondrial profile. An isoform of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) is targeted to mtDNA by a conserved N-terminal domain and appears to be responsible for mtDNA methylation of cytosine at the carbon-5 position. Then, a new concept has emerged in the regulation of the human mitochondrial function that refers to ?mitochondrial epigenetics.? In this chapter we introduce the concept of mitochondrial epigenetics in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.