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Rugman-Jones PF, Dodge CE, Stouthamer R. Pervasive heteroplasmy in an invasive ambrosia beetle (Scolytinae) in southern California. Heredity (Edinb) 2024:10.1038/s41437-024-00722-0. [PMID: 39266674 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-024-00722-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Heteroplasmy, the presence of multiple mitochondrial genotypes (mitotypes) within an individual, has long been thought to be a rare aberrance that is quickly removed by selection or drift. However, heteroplasmy is being reported in natural populations of eukaryotes with increasing frequency, in part due to improved diagnostic methods. Here, we report a seemingly stable heteroplasmic state in California populations of the polyphagous shothole borer (PSHB), Euwallacea fornicatus; an invasive ambrosia beetle that is causing significant tree dieback. We develop and validate a qPCR assay utilizing locked nucleic acid probes to detect different mitotypes, and qualitatively assess heteroplasmy in individual PSHB. We prove the utility of this assay by: (1) mitotyping field-collected PSHB, documenting the prevalence of heteroplasmy across its range in California; and, (2) measuring relative titers of each mitotype across multiple generations of heteroplasmic laboratory colonies to assess the stability of transmission through the maternal germline. We show that our findings are unlikely to be explained by the existence of NUMTs by next generation sequencing of contiguous sections of mitochondrial DNA, where each of the observed heteroplasmic sites are found within fully functional coding regions of mtDNA. Subsequently, we find heteroplasmic individuals are common in Californian field populations, and that heteroplasmy persists for at least 10 generations in experimental colonies. We also looked for evidence of the common occurrence of paternal leakage, but found none. In light of our results, we discuss competing hypotheses as to how heteroplasmy may have arisen, and continues to perpetuate, in Californian PSHB populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul F Rugman-Jones
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
| | - Christine E Dodge
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
- Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, USDA-APHIS-PPQ-S&T, 1398 W. Truck Rd, Buzzards Bay, MA, 02542, USA
| | - Richard Stouthamer
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
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2
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Qi Z, Shi J, Yu Y, Yin G, Zhou X, Yu Y. Paternal Mitochondrial DNA Leakage in Natural Populations of Large-Scale Loach, Paramisgurnus dabryanus. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:604. [PMID: 39194542 DOI: 10.3390/biology13080604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Animal mitochondrial DNA is usually considered to comply with strict maternal inheritance, and only one mitochondrial DNA haplotype exists in an individual. However, mitochondrial heteroplasmy, the occurrence of more than one mitochondrial haplotype, has recently been reported in some animals, such as mice, mussels, and birds. This study conducted extensive field surveys to obtain representative samples to investigate the existence of paternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in natural fish populations. Evidence of paternal mitochondrial DNA leakage of P. dabryanus was discovered using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics methods. Two distinct mitochondrial haplotypes (16,569 bp for haplotype I and 16,646 bp for haplotype II) were observed, differing by 18.83% in nucleotide sequence. Phylogenetic analysis suggests divergence between these haplotypes and potential interspecific hybridization with M. anguillicaudatus, leading to paternal leakage. In natural populations of P. dabryanus along the Yangtze River, both haplotypes are present, with Type I being dominant (75% copy number). Expression analysis shows that Type I has higher expression levels of ND3 and ND6 genes compared to Type II, suggesting Type I's primary role. This discovery of a species with two mitochondrial types provides a model for studying paternal leakage heterogeneity and insights into mitochondrial genome evolution and inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixin Qi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jiaoxu Shi
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Agronomy and Life Science Department, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong 657000, China
| | - Yue Yu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Guangmei Yin
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhou
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yongyao Yu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
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3
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Vedelek V, Jankovics F, Zádori J, Sinka R. Mitochondrial Differentiation during Spermatogenesis: Lessons from Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3980. [PMID: 38612789 PMCID: PMC11012351 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073980] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Numerous diseases can arise as a consequence of mitochondrial malfunction. Hence, there is a significant focus on studying the role of mitochondria in cancer, ageing, neurodegenerative diseases, and the field of developmental biology. Mitochondria could exist as discrete organelles in the cell; however, they have the ability to fuse, resulting in the formation of interconnected reticular structures. The dynamic changes between these forms correlate with mitochondrial function and mitochondrial health, and consequently, there is a significant scientific interest in uncovering the specific molecular constituents that govern these transitions. Moreover, the specialized mitochondria display a wide array of variable morphologies in their cristae formations. These inner mitochondrial structures are closely associated with the specific functions performed by the mitochondria. In multiple cases, the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to male sterility, as it has been observed to cause a range of abnormal spermatogenesis and sperm phenotypes in different species. This review aims to elucidate the dynamic alterations and functions of mitochondria in germ cell development during the spermatogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Vedelek
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Jankovics
- Institute of Genetics, HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, 6726 Szeged, Hungary;
- Department of Medical Biology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical Centre, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - János Zádori
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical Centre, University of Szeged, 6723 Szeged, Hungary;
| | - Rita Sinka
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
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4
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Cao J, Luo Y, Chen Y, Wu Z, Zhang J, Wu Y, Hu W. Maternal mitochondrial function affects paternal mitochondrial inheritance in Drosophila. Genetics 2024; 226:iyae014. [PMID: 38290047 PMCID: PMC10990420 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae014] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The maternal inheritance of mitochondria is a widely accepted paradigm, and mechanisms that prevent paternal mitochondria transmission to offspring during spermatogenesis and postfertilization have been described. Although certain species do retain paternal mitochondria, the factors affecting paternal mitochondria inheritance in these cases are unclear. More importantly, the evolutionary benefit of retaining paternal mitochondria and their ultimate fate are unknown. Here we show that transplanted exogenous paternal D. yakuba mitochondria can be transmitted to offspring when maternal mitochondria are dysfunctional in D. melanogaster. Furthermore, we show that the preserved paternal mitochondria are functional, and can be stably inherited, such that the proportion of paternal mitochondria increases gradually in subsequent generations. Our work has important implications that paternal mitochondria inheritance should not be overlooked as a genetic phenomenon in evolution, especially when paternal mitochondria are of significant differences from the maternal mitochondria or the maternal mitochondria are functionally abnormal. Our results improve the understanding of mitochondrial inheritance and provide a new model system for its study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinguo Cao
- Department of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
- Key Laboratory of Mitochondrial Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Yuying Luo
- Department of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Yonghe Chen
- Department of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Zhaoqi Wu
- Department of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Jiting Zhang
- Department of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Yi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Gannan Medical University, Ministry of Education, Ganzhou 341000, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetic and Developmental Related Diseases, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Wen Hu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Gannan Medical University, Ministry of Education, Ganzhou 341000, China
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5
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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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6
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Wang T, Li TC, Miao YH, Wu LN, Chen YQ, Huang DW, Xiao JH. The gender-specific impact of starvation on mitotypes diversity in adults of Drosophila melanogaster. Open Biol 2022; 12:220108. [PMID: 36167086 PMCID: PMC9514890 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In animals, starvation can increase the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in some tissues. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is more vulnerable to being attacked by ROS due to the lack of histone protection, leading to oxidative damage. However, whether starvation is associated with the genetic diversity of mtDNA remains unclear. Here, by using adult individuals of Drosophila melanogaster under three different feeding treatments (starvation, with the provision of only water, and normal feeding), based on the high-throughput sequencing results of the PCR amplicons of the partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mt-cox1), no significant difference in the mean number of mitochondrial haplotypes and the mean genetic distance of haplotypes within individuals were identified between the three treatment groups. Coupled with the low proportion of heterogeneous mt-cox1 sequences within each individual, it suggested that starvation had a limited impact on mitotype genetic diversity and mitochondrial function. Nevertheless, starvation could significantly increase the sequence number of haplotypes containing specific mutations, and for males with higher levels of mitochondrial heteroplasmy than females in the normal feeding group, starvation could further increase their mitochondrial heteroplasmy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Chu Li
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun-Heng Miao
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Luo-Nan Wu
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Qiao Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Da-Wei Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Hua Xiao
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, People's Republic of China
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7
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Parakatselaki ME, Zhu CT, Rand D, Ladoukakis ED. NUMTs Can Imitate Biparental Transmission of mtDNA-A Case in Drosophila melanogaster. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061023. [PMID: 35741785 PMCID: PMC9222939 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
mtDNA sequences can be incorporated into the nuclear genome and produce nuclear mitochondrial fragments (NUMTs), which resemble mtDNA in their sequence but are transmitted biparentally, like the nuclear genome. NUMTs can be mistaken as real mtDNA and may lead to the erroneous impression that mtDNA is biparentally transmitted. Here, we report a case of mtDNA heteroplasmy in a Drosophila melanogaster DGRP line, in which the one haplotype was biparentally transmitted in an autosomal manner. Given the sequence identity of this haplotype with the mtDNA, the crossing experiments led to uncertainty about whether heteroplasmy was real or an artifact due to a NUMT. More specific experiments revealed that there is a large NUMT insertion in the X chromosome of a specific DGRP line, imitating biparental inheritance of mtDNA. Our result suggests that studies on mtDNA heteroplasmy and on mtDNA inheritance should first exclude the possibility of NUMT interference in their data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chen-Tseh Zhu
- Department of Ecology, Evolutionary and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; (C.-T.Z.); (D.R.)
| | - David Rand
- Department of Ecology, Evolutionary and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA; (C.-T.Z.); (D.R.)
| | - Emmanuel D. Ladoukakis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, 70013 Iraklio, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-281-039-4067
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8
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Li H, Xu J, Wang S, Wang P, Rao W, Hou B, Zhang Y. Genetic Differentiation and Widespread Mitochondrial Heteroplasmy among Geographic Populations of the Gourmet Mushroom Thelephora ganbajun from Yunnan, China. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050854. [PMID: 35627240 PMCID: PMC9141859 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial genomes are generally considered non-recombining and homoplasmic in nature. However, our previous study provided the first evidence of extensive and stable mitochondrial heteroplasmy in natural populations of the basidiomycete fungus Thelephora ganbajun from Yunnan province, China. The heteroplasmy was characterized by the presence of two types of introns residing at adjacent but different sites in the cytochrome oxidase subunits I (cox1) gene within an individual strain. However, the frequencies of these two introns among isolates from different geographical populations and the implications for the genetic structure in natural populations have not been investigated. In this study, we analyzed DNA sequence variation at the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene cluster among 489 specimens from 30 geographic locations from Yunnan and compared that variation with distribution patterns of the two signature introns in the cox1 gene that are indicative of heteroplasmy in this species. In our samples, evidence for gene flow, abundant genetic diversity, and genotypic uniqueness among geographic samples in Yunnan were revealed by ITS sequence variation. While there was insignificant positive correlation between geographic distance and genetic differentiation among the geographic samples based on ITS sequences, a moderate significant correlation was found between ITS sequence variation, geographical distance of sampling sites, and distribution patterns of the two heteroplasmic introns in the cox1 gene. Interestingly, there was a significantly negative correlation between the copy numbers of the two co-existing introns. We discussed the implications of our results for a better understanding of the spread of stable mitochondrial heteroplasmy, mito-nuclear interactions, and conservation of this important gourmet mushroom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (H.L.); (J.X.); (S.W.); (P.W.)
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (W.R.); (B.H.)
| | - Jianping Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (H.L.); (J.X.); (S.W.); (P.W.)
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Shaojuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (H.L.); (J.X.); (S.W.); (P.W.)
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (W.R.); (B.H.)
| | - Pengfei Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (H.L.); (J.X.); (S.W.); (P.W.)
| | - Wanqin Rao
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (W.R.); (B.H.)
| | - Bin Hou
- School of Life Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (W.R.); (B.H.)
| | - Ying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650032, China; (H.L.); (J.X.); (S.W.); (P.W.)
- Correspondence:
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9
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Allison TM, Radzvilavicius AL, Dowling DK. Selection for biparental inheritance of mitochondria under hybridization and mitonuclear fitness interactions. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211600. [PMID: 34875196 PMCID: PMC8651416 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Uniparental inheritance (UPI) of mitochondria predominates over biparental inheritance (BPI) in most eukaryotes. However, examples of BPI of mitochondria, or paternal leakage, are becoming increasingly prevalent. Most reported cases of BPI occur in hybrids of distantly related sub-populations. It is thought that BPI in these cases is maladaptive; caused by a failure of female or zygotic autophagy machinery to recognize divergent male-mitochondrial DNA ‘tags’. Yet recent theory has put forward examples in which BPI can evolve under adaptive selection, and empirical studies across numerous metazoan taxa have demonstrated outbreeding depression in hybrids attributable to disruption of population-specific mitochondrial and nuclear genotypes (mitonuclear mismatch). Based on these developments, we hypothesize that BPI may be favoured by selection in hybridizing populations when fitness is shaped by mitonuclear interactions. We test this idea using a deterministic, simulation-based population genetic model and demonstrate that BPI is favoured over strict UPI under moderate levels of gene flow typical of hybridizing populations. Our model suggests that BPI may be stable, rather than a transient phenomenon, in hybridizing populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom M Allison
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Damian K Dowling
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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10
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Tan DX, Hardeland R. The Reserve/Maximum Capacity of Melatonin's Synthetic Function for the Potential Dimorphism of Melatonin Production and Its Biological Significance in Mammals. Molecules 2021; 26:7302. [PMID: 34885890 PMCID: PMC8659113 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26237302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we attempt to classify a potential dimorphism of melatonin production. Thus, a new concept of "reserve or maximum capacity of melatonin synthetic function" is introduced to explain the subtle dimorphism of melatonin production in mammals. Considering ASMT/ASMTL genes in the pseudoautosomal region of sex chromosomes with high prevalence of mutation in males, as well as the sex bias of the mitochondria in which melatonin is synthesized, we hypothesize the existence of a dimorphism in melatonin production to favor females, which are assumed to possess a higher reserve capacity for melatonin synthesis than males. Under physiological conditions, this subtle dimorphism is masked by the fact that cells or tissues only need baseline melatonin production, which can be accomplished without exploiting the full potential of melatonin's synthetic capacity. This capacity is believed to exceed the already remarkable nocturnal increase as observed within the circadian cycle. However, during aging or under stressful conditions, the reserve capacity of melatonin's synthetic function is required to be activated to produce sufficiently high levels of melatonin for protective purposes. Females seem to possess a higher reserve/maximum capacity for producing more melatonin than males. Thus, this dimorphism of melatonin production becomes manifest and detectable under these conditions. The biological significance of the reserve/maximum capacity of melatonin's synthetic function is to improve the recovery rate of organisms from injury, to increase resistance to pathogen infection, and even to enhance their chances of survival by maximizing melatonin production under stressful conditions. The higher reserve/maximum capacity of melatonin synthesis in females may also contribute to the dimorphism in longevity, favoring females in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dun-Xian Tan
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Rüdiger Hardeland
- Johann Friedrich Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany;
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11
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mtDNA Heteroplasmy: Origin, Detection, Significance, and Evolutionary Consequences. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11070633. [PMID: 34209862 PMCID: PMC8307225 DOI: 10.3390/life11070633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is predominately uniparentally transmitted. This results in organisms with a single type of mtDNA (homoplasmy), but two or more mtDNA haplotypes have been observed in low frequency in several species (heteroplasmy). In this review, we aim to highlight several aspects of heteroplasmy regarding its origin and its significance on mtDNA function and evolution, which has been progressively recognized in the last several years. Heteroplasmic organisms commonly occur through somatic mutations during an individual’s lifetime. They also occur due to leakage of paternal mtDNA, which rarely happens during fertilization. Alternatively, heteroplasmy can be potentially inherited maternally if an egg is already heteroplasmic. Recent advances in sequencing techniques have increased the ability to detect and quantify heteroplasmy and have revealed that mitochondrial DNA copies in the nucleus (NUMTs) can imitate true heteroplasmy. Heteroplasmy can have significant evolutionary consequences on the survival of mtDNA from the accumulation of deleterious mutations and for its coevolution with the nuclear genome. Particularly in humans, heteroplasmy plays an important role in the emergence of mitochondrial diseases and determines the success of the mitochondrial replacement therapy, a recent method that has been developed to cure mitochondrial diseases.
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12
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Ma H, Van Dyken C, Darby H, Mikhalchenko A, Marti-Gutierrez N, Koski A, Liang D, Li Y, Tippner-Hedges R, Kang E, Lee Y, Sidener H, Ramsey C, Hodge T, Amato P, Mitalipov S. Germline transmission of donor, maternal and paternal mtDNA in primates. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:493-505. [PMID: 33289786 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deaa308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the long-term developmental, reproductive and genetic consequences of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) in primates? SUMMARY ANSWER Longitudinal investigation of MRT rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) generated with donor mtDNA that is exceedingly distant from the original maternal counterpart suggest that their growth, general health and fertility is unremarkable and similar to controls. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Mitochondrial gene mutations contribute to a diverse range of incurable human disorders. MRT via spindle transfer in oocytes was developed and proposed to prevent transmission of pathogenic mtDNA mutations from mothers to children. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION The study provides longitudinal studies on general health, fertility as well as transmission and segregation of parental mtDNA haplotypes to various tissues and organs in five adult MRT rhesus macaques and their offspring. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS MRT was achieved by spindle transfer between metaphase II oocytes from genetically divergent rhesus macaque populations. After fertilization of oocytes with sperm, heteroplasmic zygotes contained an unequal mixture of three parental genomes, i.e. donor (≥97%), maternal (≤3%), and paternal (≤0.1%) mitochondrial (mt)DNA. MRT monkeys were grown to adulthood and their development and general health was regularly monitored. Reproductive fitness of male and female MRT macaques was evaluated by time-mated breeding and production of live offspring. The relative contribution of donor, maternal, and paternal mtDNA was measured by whole mitochondrial genome sequencing in all organs and tissues of MRT animals and their offspring. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Both male and female MRT rhesus macaques containing unequal mixture of three parental genomes, i.e. donor (≥97%), maternal (≤3%), and paternal (≤0.1%) mtDNA reached healthy adulthood, were fertile and most animals stably maintained the initial ratio of parental mtDNA heteroplasmy and donor mtDNA was transmitted from females to offspring. However, in one monkey out of four analyzed, initially negligible maternal mtDNA heteroplasmy levels increased substantially up to 17% in selected internal tissues and organs. In addition, two monkeys showed paternal mtDNA contribution up to 33% in selected internal tissues and organs. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Conclusions in this study were made on a relatively low number of MRT monkeys, and on only one F1 (first generation) female. In addition, monkey MRT involved two wildtype mtDNA haplotypes, but not disease-relevant variants. Clinical trials on children born after MRT will be required to fully determine safety and efficacy of MRT for humans. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our data show that MRT is compatible with normal postnatal development including overall health and reproductive fitness in nonhuman primates without any detected adverse effects. 'Mismatched' donor mtDNA in MRT animals even from the genetically distant mtDNA haplotypes did not cause secondary mitochondrial dysfunction. However, carry-over maternal or paternal mtDNA contributions increased substantially in selected internal tissues / organs of some MRT animals implying the possibility of mtDNA mutation recurrence. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work has been funded by the grants from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the National Institutes of Health (RO1AG062459 and P51 OD011092), National Research Foundation of Korea (2018R1D1A1B07043216) and Oregon Health & Science University institutional funds. The authors declare no competing interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ma
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Crystal Van Dyken
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Hayley Darby
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Aleksei Mikhalchenko
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Nuria Marti-Gutierrez
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Amy Koski
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Dan Liang
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Ying Li
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Rebecca Tippner-Hedges
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Eunju Kang
- Stem Cell Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonmi Lee
- Stem Cell Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Heather Sidener
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Cathy Ramsey
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Travis Hodge
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Paula Amato
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Shoukhrat Mitalipov
- Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.,Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
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Triapitsyn SV, Rugman-Jones PF, Tretiakov PS, Daane KM, Wilson H. Reassessment of molecular and morphological variation within the Anagrus atomus species complex (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae): egg parasitoids of leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Europe and North America. J NAT HIST 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1827073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Peter S. Tretiakov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kent M. Daane
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Houston Wilson
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
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14
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de Melo KP, Camargo M. Mechanisms for sperm mitochondrial removal in embryos. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1868:118916. [PMID: 33276010 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different animal species have different characteristics regarding the transmission of mitochondrial DNA. While some species have biparental mitochondrial inheritance, others have developed pathways to remove paternal mtDNA. These pathways guarantee the uniparental mitochondrial inheritance, so far well known in mammals, avoiding heteroplasmy, which may have the potential to cause certain mitochondrial diseases in the offspring. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review aims to address the main mechanisms that involve mitochondrial degradation in different animal species, as well as to describe what is present in the literature on the mechanisms involved in mitochondrial inheritance. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Two theories are proposed to explain the uniparental inheritance of mtDNA: (i) active degradation, where mechanisms for paternal mitochondrial DNA elimination involve mitochondrial degradation pathway by autophagy and, in some species, may also involve the endocytic degradation pathway; and (ii) passive dilution, where the paternal mitochondria are diluted in the cells of the embryo according to cell division, until becoming undetectable. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This work brings a wide review of the already published evidence on mitochondrial inheritance in the animal kingdom and the possible mechanisms to mtDNA transmission already described in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Pacheco de Melo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Camargo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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