Mitochondrial Dosimeter

Abstract

Mitochondrial mutations occur as a product of contact of a person with an environmental pollutant. Mitochondrial mutations are readily detectable in body fluids. Measurement of mitochondrial mutations in body fluids can be used as a dosimeter to monitor exposure to the environmental pollutant. Mitochondrial mutations can also be detected in cancer patients. Probes and primers containing mutant mitochondrial sequences can be used to monitor patient condition.

1 . An oligonucleotide probe comprising a sequence of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of a human mitochondrial genome, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a mutation selected from the group consisting of: a mutation selected from the group consisting of: T→C at nucleotide 114; ΔC at nucleotide 302; C→A at nucleotide 386; insert T at nucleotide 16189; A→C at nucleotide 16265; A→T at nucleotide 16532; C→T at nucleotide 150; T→C at nucleotide 195; ΔC at nucleotide 302; C→A at nucleotide 16183; C→T at nucleotide 16187; T→C at nucleotide 16519; G→A at nucleotide 16380; G→A at nucleotide 75; insert C at nucleotide 302; insert C→G at nucleotide 514; T→C at nucleotide 16172; C→T at nucleotide 16292; A→G at nucleotide 16300; A→G at nucleotide 10792; C→T at nucleotide 10793; C→T at nucleotide 10822; A→G at nucleotide 10978; A→G at nucleotide 11065; G→A at nucleotide 11518; C→T at nucleotide 12049; T→C at nucleotide 10966; G→A at nucleotide 11150; G→A at nucleotide 2056; T→C at nucleotide 2445; T→C at nucleotide 2664; T→C at nucleotide 10071; T→C at nucleotide 10321; T→C at nucleotide 12519; Δ 7 amino acids at nucleotide 15642; G→A at nucleotide 5521; G→A at nucleotide 12345; G→A at nucleotide 3054; T→C substitution at position 710; T→C substitution at position 1738; T→C substitution at position 3308; G→A substitution at position 8009; G→A substitution at position 14985; T→C substitution at position 15572; G→A substitution at position 9949; T→C substitution at position 10563; G→A substitution at position 6264; A insertion at position 12418; T→C substitution at position 1967; and T→A substitution at position 2299. 
     
     
         2 . An oligonucleotide primer comprising a sequence of at least 10 contiguous nucleotides of a human mitochondrial genome, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a mutation selected from the group consisting of: a mutation selected from the group consisting of: T→C at nucleotide 114; ΔC at nucleotide 302; C→A at nucleotide 386; insert T at nucleotide 16189; A→C at nucleotide 16265; A→T at nucleotide 16532; C→T at nucleotide 150; T→C at nucleotide 195; ΔC at nucleotide 302; C→A at nucleotide 16183; C→T at nucleotide 16187; T→C at nucleotide 16519; G→A at nucleotide 16380; GA at nucleotide 75; insert C at nucleotide 302; insert C→G at nucleotide 514; T→C at nucleotide 16172; C→T at nucleotide 16292; A→G at nucleotide 16300; A→G at nucleotide 10792; C→T at nucleotide 10793; C→T at nucleotide 10822; A→G at nucleotide 10978; A→G at nucleotide 11065; G→A at nucleotide 11518; C→T at nucleotide 12049; T→C at nucleotide 10966; G→A at nucleotide 11150; G→A at nucleotide 2056; T→C at nucleotide 2445; T→C at nucleotide 2664; T→C at nucleotide 10071; T→C at nucleotide 10321; T→C at nucleotide 12519; Δ 7 amino acids at nucleotide 15642; G→A at nucleotide 5521; G→A at nucleotide 12345; G→A at nucleotide 3054; T→C substitution at position 710; T→C substitution at position 1738; T→C substitution at position 3308; G→A substitution at position 8009; G→A substitution at position 14985; T→C substitution at position 15572; G→A substitution at position 9949; T→C substitution at position 10563; G→A substitution at position 6264; A insertion at position 12418; T→C substitution at position 1967; and T→A substitution at position 2299. 
     
     
         3 .- 57 . (canceled)