1
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Li N, Flanagan BA, Edmands S. The role of mitochondria in sex- and age-specific gene expression in a species without sex chromosomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321267121. [PMID: 38838014 PMCID: PMC11181141 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321267121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria perform an array of functions, many of which involve interactions with gene products encoded by the nucleus. These mitochondrial functions, particularly those involving energy production, can be expected to differ between sexes and across ages. Here, we measured mitochondrial effects on sex- and age-specific gene expression in parental and reciprocal F1 hybrids between allopatric populations of Tigriopus californicus with over 20% mitochondrial DNA divergence. Because the species lacks sex chromosomes, sex-biased mitochondrial effects are not confounded by the effects of sex chromosomes. Results revealed pervasive sex differences in mitochondrial effects, including effects on energetics and aging involving nuclear interactions throughout the genome. Using single-individual RNA sequencing, sex differences were found to explain more than 80% of the variance in gene expression. Males had higher expression of mitochondrial genes and mitochondrially targeted proteins (MTPs) involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), while females had elevated expression of non-OXPHOS MTPs, indicating strongly sex-dimorphic energy metabolism at the whole organism level. Comparison of reciprocal F1 hybrids allowed insights into the nature of mito-nuclear interactions, showing both mitochondrial effects on nuclear expression, and nuclear effects on mitochondrial expression. While based on a small set of crosses, sex-specific increases in mitochondrial expression with age were associated with longer life. Network analyses identified nuclear components of strong mito-nuclear interactions and found them to be sexually dimorphic. These results highlight the profound impact of mitochondria and mito-nuclear interactions on sex- and age-specific gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Ben A. Flanagan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
| | - Suzanne Edmands
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90089
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2
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McDiarmid CS, Hooper DM, Stier A, Griffith SC. Mitonuclear interactions impact aerobic metabolism in hybrids and may explain mitonuclear discordance in young, naturally hybridizing bird lineages. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17374. [PMID: 38727686 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Understanding genetic incompatibilities and genetic introgression between incipient species are major goals in evolutionary biology. Mitochondrial genes evolve rapidly and exist in dense gene networks with coevolved nuclear genes, suggesting that mitochondrial respiration may be particularly susceptible to disruption in hybrid organisms. Mitonuclear interactions have been demonstrated to contribute to hybrid dysfunction between deeply divergent taxa crossed in the laboratory, but there are few empirical examples of mitonuclear interactions between younger lineages that naturally hybridize. Here, we use controlled hybrid crosses and high-resolution respirometry to provide the first experimental evidence in a bird that inter-lineage mitonuclear interactions impact mitochondrial aerobic metabolism. Specifically, respiration capacity of the two mitodiscordant backcrosses (with mismatched mitonuclear combinations) differs from one another, although they do not differ significantly from the parental groups or mitoconcordant backcrosses as we would expect of mitonuclear disruptions. In the wild hybrid zone between these subspecies, the mitochondrial cline centre is shifted west of the nuclear cline centre, which is consistent with the direction of our experimental results. Our results therefore demonstrate asymmetric mitonuclear interactions that impact the capacity of cellular mitochondrial respiration and may help to explain the geographic discordance between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes observed in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum S McDiarmid
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel M Hooper
- Institute for Comparative Genomics and Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
| | - Antoine Stier
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR7178, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Simon C Griffith
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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3
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Edmands S. Mother's Curse effects on lifespan and aging. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2024; 5:1361396. [PMID: 38523670 PMCID: PMC10957651 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1361396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The Mother's Curse hypothesis posits that mothers curse their sons with harmful mitochondria, because maternal mitochondrial inheritance makes selection blind to mitochondrial mutations that harm only males. As a result, mitochondrial function may be evolutionarily optimized for females. This is an attractive explanation for ubiquitous sex differences in lifespan and aging, given the prevalence of maternal mitochondrial inheritance and the established relationship between mitochondria and aging. This review outlines patterns expected under the hypothesis, and traits most likely to be affected, chiefly those that are sexually dimorphic and energy intensive. A survey of the literature shows that evidence for Mother's Curse is limited to a few taxonomic groups, with the strongest support coming from experimental crosses in Drosophila. Much of the evidence comes from studies of fertility, which is expected to be particularly vulnerable to male-harming mitochondrial mutations, but studies of lifespan and aging also show evidence of Mother's Curse effects. Despite some very compelling studies supporting the hypothesis, the evidence is quite patchy overall, with contradictory results even found for the same traits in the same taxa. Reasons for this scarcity of evidence are discussed, including nuclear compensation, factors opposing male-specific mutation load, effects of interspecific hybridization, context dependency and demographic effects. Mother's Curse effects may indeed contribute to sex differences, but the complexity of other contributing factors make Mother's Curse a poor general predictor of sex-specific lifespan and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Edmands
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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4
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Brand JA, Garcia-Gonzalez F, Dowling DK, Wong BBM. Mitochondrial genetic variation as a potential mediator of intraspecific behavioural diversity. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:199-212. [PMID: 37839905 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial genes play an essential role in energy metabolism. Variation in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence often exists within species, and this variation can have consequences for energy production and organismal life history. Yet, despite potential links between energy metabolism and the expression of animal behaviour, mtDNA variation has been largely neglected to date in studies investigating intraspecific behavioural diversity. We outline how mtDNA variation and interactions between mitochondrial and nuclear genotypes may contribute to the expression of individual-to-individual behavioural differences within populations, and why such effects may lead to sex differences in behaviour. We contend that integration of the mitochondrial genome into behavioural ecology research may be key to fully understanding the evolutionary genetics of animal behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack A Brand
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.
| | - Francisco Garcia-Gonzalez
- Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, Seville, Spain; Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Damian K Dowling
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Bob B M Wong
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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5
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Camus MF, Inwongwan S. Mitonuclear interactions modulate nutritional preference. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230375. [PMID: 38053364 PMCID: PMC10698477 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In nature, organisms are faced with constant nutritional options which fuel key life-history traits. Studies have shown that species can actively make nutritional decisions based on internal and external cues. Metabolism itself is underpinned by complex genomic interactions involving components from both nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Products from these two genomes must coordinate how nutrients are extracted, used and recycled. Given the complicated nature of metabolism, it is not well understood how nutritional choices are affected by mitonuclear interactions. This is under the rationale that changes in genomic interactions will affect metabolic flux and change physiological requirements. To this end we used a large Drosophila mitonuclear genetic panel, comprising nine isogenic nuclear genomes coupled to nine mitochondrial haplotypes, giving a total of 81 different mitonuclear genotypes. We use a capillary-based feeding assay to screen this panel for dietary preference between carbohydrate and protein. We find significant mitonuclear interactions modulating nutritional choices, with these epistatic interactions also being dependent on sex. Our findings support the notion that complex genomic interactions can place a constraint on metabolic flux. This work gives us deeper insights into how key metabolic interactions can have broad implications on behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Florencia Camus
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sahutchai Inwongwan
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Research Center of Deep Technology in Beekeeping and Bee Products for Sustainable Development Goals, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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6
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Hitchcock TJ, Gardner A. Sexual antagonism in sequential hermaphrodites. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20232222. [PMID: 37989243 PMCID: PMC10688264 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Females and males may have distinct phenotypic optima, but share essentially the same complement of genes, potentially leading to trade-offs between attaining high fitness through female versus male reproductive success. Such sexual antagonism may be particularly acute in hermaphrodites, where both reproductive strategies are housed within a single individual. While previous models have focused on simultaneous hermaphroditism, we lack theory for how sexual antagonism may play out under sequential hermaphroditism, which has the additional complexities of age-structure. Here, we develop a formal theory of sexual antagonism in sequential hermaphrodites. First, we construct a general theoretical overview of the problem, then consider different types of sexually antagonistic and life-history trade-offs, under different modes of genetic inheritance (autosomal or cytoplasmic), and different forms of sequential hermaphroditism (protogynous, protoandrous or bidirectional). Finally, we provide a concrete illustration of these general patterns by developing a two-stage two-sex model, which yields conditions for both invasion of sexually antagonistic alleles and maintenance of sexually antagonistic polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Hitchcock
- RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Sciences (iTHEMS), RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Andy Gardner
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TH, UK
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7
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Healy TM, Burton RS. Genetic incompatibilities in reciprocal hybrids between populations of Tigriopus californicus with low to moderate mitochondrial sequence divergence. Evolution 2023; 77:2100-2108. [PMID: 37407024 DOI: 10.1093/evolut/qpad122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
All mitochondrial-encoded proteins and RNAs function through interactions with nuclear-encoded proteins, which are critical for mitochondrial performance and eukaryotic fitness. Coevolution maintains inter-genomic (i.e., mitonuclear) compatibility within a taxon, but hybridization can disrupt coevolved interactions, resulting in hybrid breakdown. Thus, mitonuclear incompatibilities may be important mechanisms underlying reproductive isolation and, potentially, speciation. Here we utilize Pool-seq to assess the effects of mitochondrial genotype on nuclear allele frequencies in fast- and slow-developing reciprocal inter-population F2 hybrids between relatively low-divergence populations of the intertidal copepod Tigriopus californicus. We show that mitonuclear interactions lead to elevated frequencies of coevolved (i.e., maternal) nuclear alleles on two chromosomes in crosses between populations with 1.5% or 9.6% fixed differences in mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequence. However, we also find evidence of excess mismatched (i.e., noncoevolved) alleles on three or four chromosomes per cross, respectively, and of allele frequency differences consistent with effects involving only nuclear loci (i.e., unaffected by mitochondrial genotype). Thus, our results for low-divergence crosses suggest an underlying role for mitonuclear interactions in variation in hybrid developmental rate, but despite substantial effects of mitonuclear coevolution on individual chromosomes, no clear bias favoring coevolved interactions overall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy M Healy
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Ronald S Burton
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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8
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Dowling DK, Wolff JN. Evolutionary genetics of the mitochondrial genome: insights from Drosophila. Genetics 2023; 224:iyad036. [PMID: 37171259 PMCID: PMC10324950 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are key to energy conversion in virtually all eukaryotes. Intriguingly, despite billions of years of evolution inside the eukaryote, mitochondria have retained their own small set of genes involved in the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and protein translation. Although there was a long-standing assumption that the genetic variation found within the mitochondria would be selectively neutral, research over the past 3 decades has challenged this assumption. This research has provided novel insight into the genetic and evolutionary forces that shape mitochondrial evolution and broader implications for evolutionary ecological processes. Many of the seminal studies in this field, from the inception of the research field to current studies, have been conducted using Drosophila flies, thus establishing the species as a model system for studies in mitochondrial evolutionary biology. In this review, we comprehensively review these studies, from those focusing on genetic processes shaping evolution within the mitochondrial genome, to those examining the evolutionary implications of interactions between genes spanning mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and to those investigating the dynamics of mitochondrial heteroplasmy. We synthesize the contribution of these studies to shaping our understanding of the evolutionary and ecological implications of mitochondrial genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian K Dowling
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Jonci N Wolff
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
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9
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Nguyen THM, Tinz-Burdick A, Lenhardt M, Geertz M, Ramirez F, Schwartz M, Toledano M, Bonney B, Gaebler B, Liu W, Wolters JF, Chiu K, Fiumera AC, Fiumera HL. Mapping mitonuclear epistasis using a novel recombinant yeast population. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010401. [PMID: 36989278 PMCID: PMC10085025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation in mitochondrial and nuclear genomes can perturb mitonuclear interactions and lead to phenotypic differences between individuals and populations. Despite their importance to most complex traits, it has been difficult to identify the interacting mitonuclear loci. Here, we present a novel advanced intercrossed population of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts, called the Mitonuclear Recombinant Collection (MNRC), designed explicitly for detecting mitonuclear loci contributing to complex traits. For validation, we focused on mapping genes that contribute to the spontaneous loss of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) that leads to the petite phenotype in yeast. We found that rates of petite formation in natural populations are variable and influenced by genetic variation in nuclear DNA, mtDNA and mitonuclear interactions. We mapped nuclear and mitonuclear alleles contributing to mtDNA stability using the MNRC by integrating a term for mitonuclear epistasis into a genome-wide association model. We found that the associated mitonuclear loci play roles in mitotic growth most likely responding to retrograde signals from mitochondria, while the associated nuclear loci with main effects are involved in genome replication. We observed a positive correlation between growth rates and petite frequencies, suggesting a fitness tradeoff between mitotic growth and mtDNA stability. We also found that mtDNA stability was correlated with a mobile mitochondrial GC-cluster that is present in certain populations of yeast and that selection for nuclear alleles that stabilize mtDNA may be rapidly occurring. The MNRC provides a powerful tool for identifying mitonuclear interacting loci that will help us to better understand genotype-phenotype relationships and coevolutionary trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuc H M Nguyen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, New York University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Austen Tinz-Burdick
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Meghan Lenhardt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Margaret Geertz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Franchesca Ramirez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Mark Schwartz
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Michael Toledano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Brooke Bonney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Benjamin Gaebler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Weiwei Liu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - John F Wolters
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Kenneth Chiu
- Department of Computer Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Anthony C Fiumera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
| | - Heather L Fiumera
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York, United States of America
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10
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Cayuela H, Gaillard JM, Vieira C, Ronget V, Gippet JMW, Garcia TC, Marais GAB, Lemaître JF. Sex differences in adult lifespan and aging rate across mammals: a test of the 'Mother Curse hypothesis'. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 212:111799. [PMID: 36948470 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
In many animal species, including humans, males have shorter lifespan and show faster survival aging than females. This differential increase in mortality between sexes could result from the accumulation of deleterious mutations in the mitochondrial genome of males due to the maternal mode of mtDNA inheritance. To date, empirical evidence supporting the existence of this mechanism - called the Mother Curse hypothesis - remains largely limited to a few study cases in humans and Drosophila. In this study, we tested whether the Mother Curse hypothesis accounts for sex differences in lifespan and aging rate across 128 populations of mammals (60 and 68 populations studied in wild and captive conditions, respectively) encompassing 104 species. We found that adult lifespan decreases with increasing mtDNA neutral substitution rate in both sexes in a similar way in the wild - but not in captivity. Moreover, the aging rate marginally increased with neutral substitution rate in males and females in the wild. Overall, these results indicate that the Mother Curse hypothesis is not supported across mammals. We further discuss the implication of these findings for our understanding of the evolution of sex differences in mortality and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Cayuela
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-769622, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-769622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Cristina Vieira
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-769622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Victor Ronget
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-769622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jérôme M W Gippet
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Thamar Conde Garcia
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-769622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Gabriel A B Marais
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal; Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Jean-François Lemaître
- Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5558, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, F-769622, Villeurbanne, France
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11
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Bennett-Keki S, Fowler EK, Folkes L, Moxon S, Chapman T. Sex-biased gene expression in nutrient-sensing pathways. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222086. [PMID: 36883280 PMCID: PMC9993052 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Differences in lifespan between males and females are found across many taxa and may be determined, at least in part, by differential responses to diet. Here we tested the hypothesis that the higher dietary sensitivity of female lifespan is mediated by higher and more dynamic expression in nutrient-sensing pathways in females. We first reanalysed existing RNA-seq data, focusing on 17 nutrient-sensing genes with reported lifespan effects. This revealed, consistent with the hypothesis, a dominant pattern of female-biased gene expression, and among sex-biased genes there tended to be a loss of female-bias after mating. We then tested directly the expression of these 17 nutrient-sensing genes in wild-type third instar larvae, once-mated 5- and 16-day-old adults. This confirmed sex-biased gene expression and showed that it was generally absent in larvae, but frequent and stable in adults. Overall, the findings suggest a proximate explanation for the sensitivity of female lifespan to dietary manipulations. We suggest that the contrasting selective pressures to which males and females are subject create differing nutritional demands and requirements, resulting in sex differences in lifespan. This underscores the potential importance of the health impacts of sex-specific dietary responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Bennett-Keki
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Emily K. Fowler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Leighton Folkes
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Simon Moxon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
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12
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Watson ET, Flanagan BA, Pascar JA, Edmands S. Mitochondrial effects on fertility and longevity in Tigriopus californicus contradict predictions of the mother's curse hypothesis. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221211. [PMID: 36382523 PMCID: PMC9667352 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Strict maternal inheritance of mitochondria favours the evolutionary accumulation of sex-biased fitness effects, as mitochondrial evolution occurs exclusively in female lineages. The 'mother's curse' hypothesis proposes that male-harming mutations should accumulate in mitochondrial genomes when they have neutral or beneficial effects on female fitness. Rigorous empirical tests have largely focused on Drosophila, where support for the predictions of mother's curse has been mixed. We investigated the impact of mother's curse mutations in Tigriopus californicus, a minute crustacean. Using non-recombinant backcrosses, we introgressed four divergent mitochondrial haplotypes into two nuclear backgrounds and recorded measures of fertility and longevity. We found that the phenotypic effects of mitochondrial mutations were context dependent, being influenced by the nuclear background in which they were expressed, as well as the sex of the individual and rearing temperature. Mitochondrial haplotype effects were greater for fertility than longevity, and temperature effects were greater for longevity. However, in opposition to mother's curse expectations, females had higher mitochondrial genetic variance than males for fertility and longevity, little evidence of sexual antagonism favouring females was found, and the impacts of mitonuclear mismatch harmed females but not males. Together, this indicates that selection on mitochondrial variation has not resulted in the accumulation of male mutation load in Tigriopus californicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric T. Watson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0001, USA
| | - Ben A. Flanagan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0001, USA
| | - Jane A. Pascar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0001, USA
| | - Suzanne Edmands
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0001, USA
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13
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Kyrgiafini MA, Giannoulis T, Moutou KA, Mamuris Z. Investigating the Impact of a Curse: Diseases, Population Isolation, Evolution and the Mother's Curse. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:2151. [PMID: 36421825 PMCID: PMC9690142 DOI: 10.3390/genes13112151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 09/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrion was characterized for years as the energy factory of the cell, but now its role in many more cellular processes is recognized. The mitochondrion and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) also possess a set of distinct properties, including maternal inheritance, that creates the Mother's Curse phenomenon. As mtDNA is inherited from females to all offspring, mutations that are harmful to males tend to accumulate more easily. The Mother's Curse is associated with various diseases, and has a significant effect on males, in many cases even affecting their reproductive ability. Sometimes, it even leads to reproductive isolation, as in crosses between different populations, the mitochondrial genome cannot cooperate effectively with the nuclear one resulting in a mito-nuclear incompatibility and reduce the fitness of the hybrids. This phenomenon is observed both in the laboratory and in natural populations, and have the potential to influence their evolution and speciation. Therefore, it turns out that the study of mitochondria is an exciting field that finds many applications, including pest control, and it can shed light on the molecular mechanism of several diseases, improving successful diagnosis and therapeutics. Finally, mito-nuclear co-adaptation, paternal leakage, and kin selection are some mechanisms that can mitigate the impact of the Mother's Curse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Anna Kyrgiafini
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Themistoklis Giannoulis
- Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Bioinformatics, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Thessaly, Gaiopolis, 41336 Larissa, Greece
| | - Katerina A. Moutou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
| | - Zissis Mamuris
- Laboratory of Genetics, Comparative and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis, Mezourlo, 41500 Larissa, Greece
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Wesołowska A. Sex—the most underappreciated variable in research: insights from helminth-infected hosts. Vet Res 2022; 53:94. [PMID: 36397174 PMCID: PMC9672581 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The sex of a host affects the intensity, prevalence, and severity of helminth infection. In many cases, one sex has been found to be more susceptible than the other, with the prevalence and intensity of helminth infections being generally higher among male than female hosts; however, many exceptions exist. This observed sex bias in parasitism results primarily from ecological, behavioural, and physiological differences between males and females. Complex interactions between these influences modulate the risk of infection. Indeed, an interplay among sex hormones, sex chromosomes, the microbiome and the immune system significantly contributes to the generation of sex bias among helminth-infected hosts. However, sex hormones not only can modulate the course of infection but also can be exploited by the parasites, and helminths appear to have developed molecules and pathways for this purpose. Furthermore, host sex may influence the efficacy of anti-helminth vaccines; however, although little data exist regarding this sex-dependent efficacy, host sex is known to influence the response to vaccines. Despite its importance, host sex is frequently overlooked in parasitological studies. This review focuses on the key contributors to sex bias in the case of helminth infection. The precise nature of the mechanisms/factors determining these sex-specific differences generally remains largely unknown, and this represents an obstacle in the development of control methods. There is an urgent need to identify any protective elements that could be targeted in future therapies to provide optimal disease management with regard to host sex. Hence, more research is needed into the impact of host sex on immunity and protection.
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15
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Archer CR, Paniw M, Vega-Trejo R, Sepil I. A sex skew in life-history research: the problem of missing males. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221117. [PMID: 35892214 PMCID: PMC9332873 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Life-history strategies are diverse. While understanding this diversity is a fundamental aim of evolutionary biology and biodemography, life-history data for some traits-in particular, age-dependent reproductive investment-are biased towards females. While other authors have highlighted this sex skew, the general scale of this bias has not been quantified and its impact on our understanding of evolutionary ecology has not been discussed. This review summarizes why the sexes can evolve different life-history strategies. The scale of the sex skew is then discussed and its magnitude compared between taxonomic groups, laboratory and field studies, and through time. We discuss the consequences of this sex skew for evolutionary and ecological research. In particular, this sex bias means that we cannot test some core evolutionary theory. Additionally, this skew could obscure or drive trends in data and hinder our ability to develop effective conservation strategies. We finally highlight some ways through which this skew could be addressed to help us better understand broad patterns in life-history strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Ruth Archer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Maria Paniw
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville 41001, Spain,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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16
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Camus MF, Alexander-Lawrie B, Sharbrough J, Hurst GDD. Inheritance through the cytoplasm. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 129:31-43. [PMID: 35525886 PMCID: PMC9273588 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00540-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Most heritable information in eukaryotic cells is encoded in the nuclear genome, with inheritance patterns following classic Mendelian segregation. Genomes residing in the cytoplasm, however, prove to be a peculiar exception to this rule. Cytoplasmic genetic elements are generally maternally inherited, although there are several exceptions where these are paternally, biparentally or doubly-uniparentally inherited. In this review, we examine the diversity and peculiarities of cytoplasmically inherited genomes, and the broad evolutionary consequences that non-Mendelian inheritance brings. We first explore the origins of vertical transmission and uniparental inheritance, before detailing the vast diversity of cytoplasmic inheritance systems across Eukaryota. We then describe the evolution of genomic organisation across lineages, how this process has been shaped by interactions with the nuclear genome and population genetics dynamics. Finally, we discuss how both nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes have evolved to co-inhabit the same host cell via one of the longest symbiotic processes, and all the opportunities for intergenomic conflict that arise due to divergence in inheritance patterns. In sum, we cannot understand the evolution of eukaryotes without understanding hereditary symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Florencia Camus
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Joel Sharbrough
- Biology Department, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM, USA
| | - Gregory D D Hurst
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England
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17
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Anderson L, Camus MF, Monteith KM, Salminen TS, Vale PF. Variation in mitochondrial DNA affects locomotor activity and sleep in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity (Edinb) 2022; 129:225-232. [PMID: 35764697 PMCID: PMC9519576 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-022-00554-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are organelles that produce cellular energy in the form of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation, and this primary function is conserved among many taxa. Locomotion is a trait that is highly reliant on metabolic function and expected to be greatly affected by disruptions to mitochondrial performance. To this end, we aimed to examine how activity and sleep vary between Drosophila melanogaster strains with different geographic origins, how these patterns are affected by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation, and how breaking up co-evolved mito-nuclear gene combinations affect the studied activity traits. Our results demonstrate that Drosophila strains from different locations differ in sleep and activity, and that females are generally more active than males. By comparing activity and sleep of mtDNA variants introgressed onto a common nuclear background in cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) strains, we were able to quantify the among-line variance attributable to mitochondrial DNA, and we establish that mtDNA variation affects both activity and sleep, in a sex-specific manner. Altogether our study highlights the important role that mitochondrial genome variation plays on organismal physiology and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Anderson
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M Florencia Camus
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Katy M Monteith
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tiina S Salminen
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Pedro F Vale
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
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18
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Flanagan BA, Li N, Edmands S. Mitonuclear interactions alter sex-specific longevity in a species without sex chromosomes. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211813. [PMID: 34727715 PMCID: PMC8564613 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired mitochondrial function can lead to senescence and the ageing phenotype. Theory predicts degenerative ageing phenotypes and mitochondrial pathologies may occur more frequently in males due to the matrilineal inheritance pattern of mitochondrial DNA observed in most eukaryotes. Here, we estimated the sex-specific longevity for parental and reciprocal F1 hybrid crosses for inbred lines derived from two allopatric Tigriopus californicus populations with over 20% mitochondrial DNA divergence. T. californicus lacks sex chromosomes allowing for more direct testing of mitochondrial function in sex-specific ageing. To better understand the ageing mechanism, we estimated two age-related phenotypes (mtDNA content and 8-hydroxy-20-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) DNA damage) at two time points in the lifespan. Sex differences in lifespan depended on the mitochondrial and nuclear backgrounds, including differences between reciprocal F1 crosses which have different mitochondrial haplotypes on a 50 : 50 nuclear background, with nuclear contributions coming from alternative parents. Young females showed the highest mtDNA content which decreased with age, while DNA damage in males increased with age and exceed that of females 56 days after hatching. The adult sex ratio was male-biased and was attributed to complex mitonuclear interactions. Results thus demonstrate that sex differences in ageing depend on mitonuclear interactions in the absence of sex chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben A. Flanagan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF 130, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF 130, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Suzanne Edmands
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, 3616 Trousdale Parkway, AHF 130, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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