Mitochondrial haplogroups, control region polymorphisms and malignant melanoma: a study in middle European Caucasians.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Because mitochondria play an essential role in energy metabolism, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis, sequence variation in the mitochondrial genome has been postulated to be a contributing factor to the etiology of multifactorial age-related diseases, including cancer. The aim of the present study was to compare the frequencies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups as well as control region (CR) polymorphisms of patients with malignant melanoma (n = 351) versus those of healthy controls (n = 1598) in Middle Europe.

Methodology and principal findings

Using primer extension analysis and DNA sequencing, we identified all nine major European mitochondrial haplogroups and known CR polymorphisms. The frequencies of the major mitochondrial hap

SUBMITTER: Ebner S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3235102 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature