Variation in the levels of complex I subunits among tissues in a patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and renal dysfunction.

Enzymic activity and the levels of immunochemically detectable subunits of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) were measured in the mitochondria from various tissues of a patient with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy and renal dysfunction. Rotenone-sensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity was decreased in all the tissues examined, but the degree of deficiency varied from tissue to tissue. The levels of subunits in Complex I were decreased roughly in parallel with the activity in each tissue. These results indicate that the apparently tissue-specific manifestation of symptoms depends mainly on the levels of subunits in Complex I.