MT-TL1

tRNA

mitochondrially encoded tRNA-Leu (UUA/G) 1, the group of Mitochondrially encoded transfer RNAs

Gene summary

Predicted to enable triplet codon-amino acid adaptor activity. Predicted to be involved in translation. Implicated in cardiomyopathy. [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]

Previous symbols:
  • MTTL1

MANE transcript

N/A

Inheritance

Mitochondrial, Maternal

ClinVar variants

—

Top phenotype

Brain pseudoatrophy, reversible, valproate-induced, susceptibility to

Max pathogenic AF

—

Genomic locus

chrM:3,230-3,304

External References & Databases

GenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations

Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns

MERRF syndromeSUPPORTIVE

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0010790

Submitter: Orphanet

mitochondrial diseaseDEFINITIVE

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0044970

Submitter: ClinGen

The relationship between *MT-TL1* and primary mitochondrial disease was evaluated using the ClinGen Clinical Validity Framework as of April 17, 2023. The *MT-TL1* gene encodes a mitochondrial tRNA for leucine (UUR), which is located from m.3230-3304 on the heavy strand of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Defects of this tRNA lead to impaired mitochondrial translation, which leads to decreased synthesis of mtDNA-encoded subunits of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes I, III, IV, and V, resulting in impaired OXPHOS enzyme activities. While various names have been given to the constellation of features seen in those with *MT-TL1*-related disease, pathogenic variants in this gene cause a primary mitochondrial disease. Therefore, the *MT-TL1* phenotype has been lumped into one disease entity according to the ClinGen Lumping and Splitting Framework. Of note, *MT-TL1* was first curated by this GCEP for its association with Leigh syndrome spectrum (LSS) on May 17, 2021 (SOP v8), with a final classification of limited. This current curation for the association with primary mitochondrial disease includes cases with LSS. *MT-TL1* was first reported in association with maternally inherited primary mitochondrial disease in 1990 (PMIDs: 2268345, 2102678) in individuals with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). Subsequent publications have shown a spectrum of phenotypes in those with *MT-TL1* – related primary mitochondrial disease including MELAS, myoclonus epilepsy, ragged red fibers (MERRF), Leigh syndrome spectrum, progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO), and maternally inherited deafness and diabetes (MIDD), as well as myopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and renal disease (PMIDs: 9323566, 12221518, 20471262, 23220830, 23273904, 24338029, 23582502, 11271374, 23258140). Evidence supporting this gene-disease relationship includes case-level data and experimental data. This curation included 7 unique recurrent missense variants, all of which have been reviewed by the Mitochondrial Disease Variant Curation Expert Panel (VCEP) and classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic (m.3243A>G, m.3243A>T, m.3256C>T, m.3258T>C, m.3291T>C, m.3302 A>G, m.3303C>T). There is a substantial amount of functional evidence for these variants, including numerous cybrid analyses, single fiber studies, and respiratory chain analyses showing clear evidence of OXPHOS defects (PMIDs: 11733109, 10672326, 20471262, 23273904, 17130166, 11271374, 30404982, 12798797, 8254046). Heteroplasmy levels of *MT-TL1* variants can be variable in tissues from the same individual. In general, variants tend to be lower in tissues such as blood, saliva, and buccal swab and urine and muscle heteroplasmy levels tend to be higher, highlighting the importance of testing multiple tissues to fully assess variant heteroplasmy levels in an affected individual. Individuals with mitochondrial myopathy have been reported with heteroplasmy levels as low as 30% in muscle (PMID: 23220830). In summary, this curation included 8 probands from 8 publications (PMIDs: 9323566, 12221518, 20471262, 23220830, 23273904, 24338029, 23582502, 11271374), however, there are hundreds of individuals reported in the literature with the m.3243A>G variant alone (PMID: 29560378). This gene-disease association is also supported by functional implication given protein interaction with the multitude of other mitochondrial translation proteins linked to primary mitochondrial disease and compelling single fiber data from patients’ cells (not included in case scoring) showing mitochondrial dysfunction, and a mouse model of the m.3302A>G variant (PMIDs: 8254046, 12798797, 35998911, 30030363). In summary, there is definitive evidence to support this gene-disease relationship, including that more than three years have elapsed since the first proposal of the association. No convincing evidence has emerged that contradicts the gene-disease relationship. This classification was approved by the NICHD/NINDS U24 ClinGen Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel on April 17, 2023 (SOP Version 9).

mitochondrial diseaseLIMITED

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0044970

Submitter: G2P

Leigh syndromeLIMITED

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0009723

Submitter: ClinGen

The relationship between MT-TL1 and Leigh syndrome spectrum was evaluated using the ClinGen Clinical Validity Framework as of May 17, 2021. The MT-TL1 gene encodes the mitochondrial transfer RNA (tRNA) for mitochondrial tRNA for leucine (UUR). Defects of this tRNA lead to impaired mitochondrial translation, which leads to decreased synthesis of mtDNA-encoded subunits of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes I, III, IV, and V and thus impaired OXPHOS enzyme activities. The MT-TL1 gene was first reported in relation to maternally inherited Leigh syndrome spectrum in 1997 (PMID: 9323566). Of note, variants (particularly m.3243A>G) in MT-TL1 are more commonly associated with other mitochondrial disease clinical syndromes such as MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) and/or MIDD (maternally inherited diabetes and deafness). Evidence supporting the relationship between MT-TL1 and Leigh syndrome spectrum includes case-level data and experimental data. This curation included one variant (m.3243A>G) in 3 cases 3 publications (PMIDs: 9323566, 23360351, 10799437). Segregation information is scored as case level evidence according to the criteria established by the Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel. Loss of function is implicated as the mechanism of disease. This gene-disease association is also supported by known biochemical function and functional alteration in non-patient cells (PMID: 27977873, 25192935, 1732728). In summary, there is limited evidence to support this gene-disease relationship. While more evidence is needed to establish this relationship definitively, no convincing evidence has emerged that contradicts the gene-disease relationship. This classification was approved by the NICHD U24 ClinGen Mitochondrial Disease Gene Curation Expert Panel on May 17, 2021 (SOP Version 8).

maternally-inherited diabetes and deafnessSTRONG

Inheritance Pattern: Mitochondrial

Disease ID:MONDO:0010785

Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp

Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)

Brain pseudoatrophy, reversible, valproate-induced, susceptibility toMaternal

Manifestation: Audiologic/Otolaryngologic; Biochemical; Cardiovascular; Musculoskeletal; Neurologic; Ophthalmologic; Renal

Intervention: General; Pharmacogenomic

Rationale: In Brain pseudoatrophy, reversible, valproate-induced, susceptibility to, variants may have pharmacogenomic importance, as medication selection would be impacted in individuals with variants

Comments: Mitochondrial variants may involve a variety of sequelae, including hearing impairment; As with other forms of epilepsy, optimal seizure control is advantageous, and genetic diagnosis may aid with medication selection

Refs: 10356136; 1514779; 1360090; 8254046; 9243242; 9506761; 10482110; 10519336; 10699170; 11708999; 12905015; 15466014; 16326995; 16476929; 17101920Source: CGD (NHGRI)

ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes

Reported disease conditions connected to MT-TL1 variants in ClinVar

0 Conditions Cataloged

No annotated ClinVar phenotypes.

ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type

Statistics based on transcript . Only rare variants are included.

We include only reliable ClinVar variants with their consequences to MANE Select, MANE Plus Clinical transcripts, or transcripts with TSL equal to 1. Click a count to filter the variants table below.

Slight differences between displayed counts and ClinVar may occur due to a different transcript/consequence chosen by our variant effect predictor, or because we classify Benign/Likely benign as Likely benign and Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic as Likely pathogenic.

EffectPLPVUSLBBSum
synonymous
0
missense
0
nonsense
0
start loss
0
frameshift
0
splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp)
0
Total000000
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Transcript Catalog

Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases

Showing 0 of 0 transcripts
Transcript IDSourceProtein IDCoding ExonsMANE Status
No transcripts match your selected source or search query.

Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways

Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways

Pathways ConsensusPathDB

  • Aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis - Homo sapiens (human)
  • Primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis FSGS

dbNSFP Gene Annotations

Source: dbNSFP

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