Abbreviations

ADP

adenosine diphosphate

ANT

adenine nucleotide translocator

ATP

adenosine triphosphate

bp

base pair

CoQ

coenzyme Q10

COX

cytochrome c oxidase

(C)PEO

(chronic) progressive external ophthalmoplegia

CSGE

conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis

cyt c

cytochrome c

D-loop

displacement loop

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

ETC

electron transfer chain

HSP

hereditary spastic paraplegia

HVS

hypervariable segment

LHON

Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy

MELAS

mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes

MERRF

myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers

MILS

maternally inherited Leigh syndrome

mRNA

messenger RNA

mtDNA

mitochondrial DNA

mTERF

transcription termination factor

NADH

reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide

NARP

neurogenic weakness, ataxia and retinitis pigmentosa

nt

nucleotide

OH

origin of replication of the heavy strand of mtDNA

OL

origin of replication of the light strand of mtDNA

OXPHOS

oxidative phosphorylation

PCR

polymerase chain reaction

PH

mtDNA transcription initiation site in the heavy strand

Pi

inorganic phosphate

PL

mtDNA transcription initiation site in the light strand

RFLP

restriction fragment length polymorphism

RNA

ribonucleic acid

RRF

ragged-red fiber

rRNA

ribosomal ribonucleic acid

SDH

succinate dehydrogenase

TCA

tricarboxylic acid

tRNA

transfer ribonucleic acid

YBP

years before present