Cellular and animal models for diseases associated with altered mitochondrial function

摘要

The present invention provides methods for depleting mitochondrial DNA from insulin secreting cells using antiviral compounds, and for producing mitochondrial cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cells and animals from mitochondrial DNA depleted cells. Also provided are methods for modeling diseases associated with altered mitochondrial function, including NIDDM, and methods for diagnosis of such diseases and methods for screening agents that may be useful for such diseases.