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Tower J. Selectively advantageous instability in biotic and pre-biotic systems and implications for evolution and aging. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2024; 5:1376060. [PMID: 38818026 PMCID: PMC11137231 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2024.1376060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Rules of biology typically involve conservation of resources. For example, common patterns such as hexagons and logarithmic spirals require minimal materials, and scaling laws involve conservation of energy. Here a relationship with the opposite theme is discussed, which is the selectively advantageous instability (SAI) of one or more components of a replicating system, such as the cell. By increasing the complexity of the system, SAI can have benefits in addition to the generation of energy or the mobilization of building blocks. SAI involves a potential cost to the replicating system for the materials and/or energy required to create the unstable component, and in some cases, the energy required for its active degradation. SAI is well-studied in cells. Short-lived transcription and signaling factors enable a rapid response to a changing environment, and turnover is critical for replacement of damaged macromolecules. The minimal gene set for a viable cell includes proteases and a nuclease, suggesting SAI is essential for life. SAI promotes genetic diversity in several ways. Toxin/antitoxin systems promote maintenance of genes, and SAI of mitochondria facilitates uniparental transmission. By creating two distinct states, subject to different selective pressures, SAI can maintain genetic diversity. SAI of components of synthetic replicators favors replicator cycling, promoting emergence of replicators with increased complexity. Both classical and recent computer modeling of replicators reveals SAI. SAI may be involved at additional levels of biological organization. In summary, SAI promotes replicator genetic diversity and reproductive fitness, and may promote aging through loss of resources and maintenance of deleterious alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Tower
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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2
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Cheung K, Amos TG, Shine R, DeVore JL, Ducatez S, Edwards RJ, Rollins LA. Whole-mitogenome analysis unveils previously undescribed genetic diversity in cane toads across their invasion trajectory. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11115. [PMID: 38435005 PMCID: PMC10909579 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive species offer insights into rapid adaptation to novel environments. The iconic cane toad (Rhinella marina) is an excellent model for studying rapid adaptation during invasion. Previous research using the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 3 (ND3) gene in Hawai'ian and Australian invasive populations found a single haplotype, indicating an extreme genetic bottleneck following introduction. Nuclear genetic diversity also exhibited reductions across the genome in these two populations. Here, we investigated the mitochondrial genomics of cane toads across this invasion trajectory. We created the first reference mitochondrial genome for this species using long-read sequence data. We combined whole-genome resequencing data of 15 toads with published transcriptomic data of 125 individuals to construct nearly complete mitochondrial genomes from the native (French Guiana) and introduced (Hawai'i and Australia) ranges for population genomic analyses. In agreement with previous investigations of these populations, we identified genetic bottlenecks in both Hawai'ian and Australian introduced populations, alongside evidence of population expansion in the invasive ranges. Although mitochondrial genetic diversity in introduced populations was reduced, our results revealed that it had been underestimated: we identified 45 mitochondrial haplotypes in Hawai'ian and Australian samples, none of which were found in the native range. Additionally, we identified two distinct groups of haplotypes from the native range, separated by a minimum of 110 base pairs (0.6%). These findings enhance our understanding of how invasion has shaped the genetic landscape of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelton Cheung
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Timothy G. Amos
- School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Rick Shine
- Department of Biological SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Jayna L. DeVore
- Univ. Polynésie FrancaiseUMR 241 EIO (UPF, IRD, IFREMER, ILM) BP 6570 Faa'aTahitiFrench Polynesia
| | - Simon Ducatez
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)UMR 241 EIO (UPF, IRD, IFREMER, ILM) BP 6570 Faa'aTahitiFrench Polynesia
| | - Richard J. Edwards
- School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Minderoo OceanOmics Centre at UWA, Oceans InstituteThe University of Western AustraliaPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Lee Ann Rollins
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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3
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Minhas BF, Beck EA, Cheng CHC, Catchen J. Novel mitochondrial genome rearrangements including duplications and extensive heteroplasmy could underlie temperature adaptations in Antarctic notothenioid fishes. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6939. [PMID: 37117267 PMCID: PMC10147917 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34237-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial genomes are known for their compact size and conserved gene order, however, recent studies employing long-read sequencing technologies have revealed the presence of atypical mitogenomes in some species. In this study, we assembled and annotated the mitogenomes of five Antarctic notothenioids, including four icefishes (Champsocephalus gunnari, C. esox, Chaenocephalus aceratus, and Pseudochaenichthys georgianus) and the cold-specialized Trematomus borchgrevinki. Antarctic notothenioids are known to harbor some rearrangements in their mt genomes, however the extensive duplications in icefishes observed in our study have never been reported before. In the icefishes, we observed duplications of the protein coding gene ND6, two transfer RNAs, and the control region with different copy number variants present within the same individuals and with some ND6 duplications appearing to follow the canonical Duplication-Degeneration-Complementation (DDC) model in C. esox and C. gunnari. In addition, using long-read sequencing and k-mer analysis, we were able to detect extensive heteroplasmy in C. aceratus and C. esox. We also observed a large inversion in the mitogenome of T. borchgrevinki, along with the presence of tandem repeats in its control region. This study is the first in using long-read sequencing to assemble and identify structural variants and heteroplasmy in notothenioid mitogenomes and signifies the importance of long-reads in resolving complex mitochondrial architectures. Identification of such wide-ranging structural variants in the mitogenomes of these fishes could provide insight into the genetic basis of the atypical icefish mitochondrial physiology and more generally may provide insights about their potential role in cold adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Fazal Minhas
- Informatics Programs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Emily A Beck
- Data Science Initiative, University of Oregon, Eugene, USA
| | - C-H Christina Cheng
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Julian Catchen
- Informatics Programs, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA.
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA.
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4
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Burgstaller JP, Chiaratti MR. Mitochondrial Inheritance Following Nuclear Transfer: From Cloned Animals to Patients with Mitochondrial Disease. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2647:83-104. [PMID: 37041330 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3064-8_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria are indispensable power plants of eukaryotic cells that also act as a major biochemical hub. As such, mitochondrial dysfunction, which can originate from mutations in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), may impair organism fitness and lead to severe diseases in humans. MtDNA is a multi-copy, highly polymorphic genome that is uniparentally transmitted through the maternal line. Several mechanisms act in the germline to counteract heteroplasmy (i.e., coexistence of two or more mtDNA variants) and prevent expansion of mtDNA mutations. However, reproductive biotechnologies such as cloning by nuclear transfer can disrupt mtDNA inheritance, resulting in new genetic combinations that may be unstable and have physiological consequences. Here, we review the current understanding of mitochondrial inheritance, with emphasis on its pattern in animals and human embryos generated by nuclear transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg P Burgstaller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marcos R Chiaratti
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.
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5
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Stochastic survival of the densest and mitochondrial DNA clonal expansion in aging. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122073119. [PMID: 36442091 PMCID: PMC9894218 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122073119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansion of mitochondrial DNA molecules with deletions has been associated with aging, particularly in skeletal muscle fibers; its mechanism has remained unclear for three decades. Previous accounts have assigned a replicative advantage (RA) to mitochondrial DNA containing deletion mutations, but there is also evidence that cells can selectively remove defective mitochondrial DNA. Here we present a spatial model that, without an RA, but instead through a combination of enhanced density for mutants and noise, produces a wave of expanding mutations with speeds consistent with experimental data. A standard model based on RA yields waves that are too fast. We provide a formula that predicts that wave speed drops with copy number, consonant with experimental data. Crucially, our model yields traveling waves of mutants even if mutants are preferentially eliminated. Additionally, we predict that mutant loads observed in single-cell experiments can be produced by de novo mutation rates that are drastically lower than previously thought for neutral models. Given this exemplar of how spatial structure (multiple linked mtDNA populations), noise, and density affect muscle cell aging, we introduce the mechanism of stochastic survival of the densest (SSD), an alternative to RA, that may underpin other evolutionary phenomena.
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6
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Yu X, Yang H, Liu J, Qi Y, Sun L, Tian X. A strategy for a high enrichment of insect mitochondrial DNA for mitogenomic analysis. Gene 2022; 808:145986. [PMID: 34600050 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing has dramatically fostered insect mitogenomic research in recent years. However, studies on the insect mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) assembly mainly rely on the sequencing data from total DNA, which is not cost-effective as a huge data from nuclear DNA are wasted. Besides, many mitogenomic studies require genomic information from individual organisms, whereas the DNA yield from small individual insects is too low to meet the sequencing requirements. Here, we describe a strategy for a high enrichment of insect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using rolling circle amplification (RCA) technique. This strategy consists of standard DNA extraction, RCA enrichment, next-generation sequencing and mitogenome assembly. We have evaluated the performance of this strategy on nine insect species representing eight families of insecta, three other invertebrates, and even two vertebrate specimens. Results show that our strategy is especially suitable for insects, which allows almost all tested insect mtDNA contents to reach 80% and above. A further examination of enrichment efficiency of our strategy among different taxa shows that it is also applicable to other invertebrates and even some vertebrates such as Rhacophorus and ptyas species, although its enrichment efficiency in these groups is lower than that of insects. After treatment with our strategy, small flux sequencing data can realize the assembly of mitogenome with deep coverage, providing a solid base for subsequent mitogenome-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongxia Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; GemPharmatech Co. Ltd, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yingju Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Genetron Health (Beijing) Co. Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Liran Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Novogene Co, Ltd, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
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7
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Feng S, Pozzi A, Stejskal V, Opit G, Yang Q, Shao R, Dowling DK, Li Z. Fragmentation in mitochondrial genomes in relation to elevated sequence divergence and extreme rearrangements. BMC Biol 2022; 20:7. [PMID: 34996453 PMCID: PMC8742463 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01218-7] [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] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A single circular mitochondrial (mt) genome is a common feature across most metazoans. The mt-genome includes protein-coding genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, as well as RNAs necessary for translation of mt-RNAs, whose order and number are highly conserved across animal clades, with few known exceptions of alternative mt-gene order or mt-genome architectures. One such exception consists of the fragmented mitochondrial genome, a type of genome architecture where mt-genes are split across two or more mt-chromosomes. However, the origins of mt-genome fragmentation and its effects on mt-genome evolution are unknown. Here, we investigate these origin and potential mechanisms underlying mt-genome fragmentation, focusing on a genus of booklice, Liposcelis, which exhibits elevated sequence divergence, frequent rearrangement of mt-gene order, and fragmentation of the mt genome, and compare them to other Metazoan clades. Results We found this genus Liposcelis exhibits very low conservation of mt-gene order across species, relative to other metazoans. Levels of gene order rearrangement were, however, unrelated to whether or not mt-genomes were fragmented or intact, suggesting mitochondrial genome fragmentation is not affecting mt-gene order directly. We further investigated possible mechanisms underpinning these patterns and revealed very high conservation of non-coding sequences at the edges of multiple recombination regions across populations of one particular Liposcelis species, supportive of a hypothesis that mt-fragmentation arises from recombination errors between mt-genome copies. We propose these errors may arise as a consequence of a heightened mutation rate in clades exhibiting mt-fragmentation. Consistent with this, we observed a striking pattern across three Metazoan phyla (Arthropoda, Nematoda, Cnidaria) characterised by members exhibiting high levels of mt-gene order rearrangement and cases of mt-fragmentation, whereby the mt-genomes of species more closely related to species with fragmented mt-genomes diverge more rapidly despite experiencing strong purifying selection. Conclusions We showed that contrary to expectations, mt-genome fragmentation is not correlated with the increase in mt-genome rearrangements. Furthermore, we present evidence that fragmentation of the mt-genome may be part of a general relaxation of a natural selection on the mt-genome, thus providing new insights into the origins of mt-genome fragmentation and evolution. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01218-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqian Feng
- Department of Plant Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.,School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Andrea Pozzi
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Vaclav Stejskal
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská 507, 161 06, Prague, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamycka 129, 165 00, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - George Opit
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, 74078, USA
| | - Qianqian Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Renfu Shao
- GeneCology Research Centre, Centre for Animal Health Innovation, School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland, 4556, Australia
| | - Damian K Dowling
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Zhihong Li
- Department of Plant Biosecurity, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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8
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The Mitochondrial Genome of a Freshwater Pelagic Amphipod Macrohectopus branickii Is among the Longest in Metazoa. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12122030. [PMID: 34946978 PMCID: PMC8700879 DOI: 10.3390/genes12122030] [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] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There are more than 350 species of amphipods (Crustacea) in Lake Baikal, which have emerged predominantly through the course of endemic radiation. This group represents a remarkable model for studying various aspects of evolution, one of which is the evolution of mitochondrial (mt) genome architectures. We sequenced and assembled the mt genome of a pelagic Baikalian amphipod species Macrohectopus branickii. The mt genome is revealed to have an extraordinary length (42,256 bp), deviating significantly from the genomes of other amphipod species and the majority of animals. The mt genome of M. branickii has a unique gene order within amphipods, duplications of the four tRNA genes and Cox2, and a long non-coding region, that makes up about two thirds of the genome’s size. The extension of the mt genome was most likely caused by multiple duplications and inversions of regions harboring ribosomal RNA genes. In this study, we analyzed the patterns of mt genome length changes in amphipods and other animal phyla. Through a statistical analysis, we demonstrated that the variability in the mt genome length may be a characteristic of certain phyla and is primarily conferred by expansions of non-coding regions.
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9
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Zhang H, Esposito M, Pezet MG, Aryaman J, Wei W, Klimm F, Calabrese C, Burr SP, Macabelli CH, Viscomi C, Saitou M, Chiaratti MR, Stewart JB, Jones N, Chinnery PF. Mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy is modulated during oocyte development propagating mutation transmission. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabi5657. [PMID: 34878831 PMCID: PMC8654302 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abi5657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Heteroplasmic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are a common cause of inherited disease, but a few recurrent mutations account for the vast majority of new families. The reasons for this are not known. We studied heteroplasmic mice transmitting m.5024C>T corresponding to a human pathogenic mutation. Analyzing 1167 mother-pup pairs, we show that m.5024C>T is preferentially transmitted from low to higher levels but does not reach homoplasmy. Single-cell analysis of the developing mouse oocytes showed the preferential increase in mutant over wild-type mtDNA in the absence of cell division. A similar inheritance pattern is seen in human pedigrees transmitting several pathogenic mtDNA mutations. In m.5024C>T mice, this can be explained by the preferential propagation of mtDNA during oocyte maturation, counterbalanced by purifying selection against high heteroplasmy levels. This could explain how a disadvantageous mutation in a carrier increases to levels that cause disease but fails to fixate, causing multigenerational heteroplasmic mtDNA disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Marco Esposito
- EPSRC Centre for the Mathematics of Precision Healthcare, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, London, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Cellular Bionics, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Mikael G. Pezet
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Juvid Aryaman
- EPSRC Centre for the Mathematics of Precision Healthcare, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Florian Klimm
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- EPSRC Centre for the Mathematics of Precision Healthcare, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Claudia Calabrese
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Stephen P. Burr
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carolina H. Macabelli
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Carlo Viscomi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mitinori Saitou
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
- JST, ERATO, Yoshida-Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Marcos R. Chiaratti
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
| | - James B. Stewart
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne 50931, Germany
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Nick Jones
- EPSRC Centre for the Mathematics of Precision Healthcare, Department of Mathematics, Imperial College, London, UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Cellular Bionics, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Patrick F. Chinnery
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
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10
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Ghiselli F, Iannello M, Piccinini G, Milani L. Bivalve molluscs as model systems for studying mitochondrial biology. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:1699-1714. [PMID: 33944910 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The class Bivalvia is a highly successful and ancient taxon including ∼25,000 living species. During their long evolutionary history bivalves adapted to a wide range of physicochemical conditions, habitats, biological interactions, and feeding habits. Bivalves can have strikingly different size, and despite their apparently simple body plan, they evolved very different shell shapes, and complex anatomic structures. One of the most striking features of this class of animals is their peculiar mitochondrial biology: some bivalves have facultatively anaerobic mitochondria that allow them to survive prolonged periods of anoxia/hypoxia. Moreover, more than 100 species have now been reported showing the only known evolutionarily stable exception to the strictly maternal inheritance of mitochondria in animals, named doubly uniparental inheritance. Mitochondrial activity is fundamental to eukaryotic life, and thanks to their diversity and uncommon features, bivalves represent a great model system to expand our knowledge about mitochondrial biology, so far limited to a few species. We highlight recent works studying mitochondrial biology in bivalves at either genomic or physiological level. A link between these two approaches is still missing, and we believe that an integrated approach and collaborative relationships are the only possible ways to be successful in such endeavour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Ghiselli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariangela Iannello
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Piccinini
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Liliana Milani
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
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11
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Breton S, Ghiselli F, Milani L. Mitochondrial Short-Term Plastic Responses and Long-Term Evolutionary Dynamics in Animal Species. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6248094. [PMID: 33892508 PMCID: PMC8290114 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
How do species respond or adapt to environmental changes? The answer to this depends partly on mitochondrial epigenetics and genetics, new players in promoting adaptation to both short- and long-term environmental changes. In this review, we explore how mitochondrial epigenetics and genetics mechanisms, such as mtDNA methylation, mtDNA-derived noncoding RNAs, micropeptides, mtDNA mutations, and adaptations, can contribute to animal plasticity and adaptation. We also briefly discuss the challenges in assessing mtDNA adaptive evolution. In sum, this review covers new advances in the field of mitochondrial genomics, many of which are still controversial, and discusses processes still somewhat obscure, and some of which are still quite speculative and require further robust experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Breton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fabrizio Ghiselli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Liliana Milani
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
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12
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Radzvilavicius A. Beyond the "selfish mitochondrion" theory of uniparental inheritance: A unified theory based on mutational variance redistribution. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100009. [PMID: 33729620 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
"Selfish" gene theories have offered invaluable insight into eukaryotic genome evolution, but they can also be misleading. The "selfish mitochondrion" hypothesis, developed in the 90s explained uniparental organelle inheritance as a mechanism of conflict resolution, improving cooperation between genetically distinct compartments of the cell. But modern population genetic models provided a more general explanation for uniparental inheritance based on mutational variance redistribution, modulating the efficiency of both purifying and adaptive selection. Nevertheless, as reviewed here, "selfish" conflict theories still dominate the literature. While these hypotheses are rich in metaphor and highly intuitive, selective focus on only one type of mitochondrial mutation limits the generality of our understanding and hinders progress in mito-nuclear evolution theory. Recognizing that uniparental inheritance may have evolved-and is maintained across the eukaryotic tree of life-because of its influence on mutational variance and improved selection will only increase the generality of our evolutionary reasoning, retaining "selfish" conflict explanations as a special case of a much broader theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arunas Radzvilavicius
- Department of Philosophy and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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13
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Iannello M, Bettinazzi S, Breton S, Ghiselli F, Milani L. A Naturally Heteroplasmic Clam Provides Clues about the Effects of Genetic Bottleneck on Paternal mtDNA. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6130822. [PMID: 33555290 PMCID: PMC7936021 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is present in multiple copies within an organism. Since these copies are not identical, a single individual carries a heterogeneous population of mtDNAs, a condition known as heteroplasmy. Several factors play a role in the dynamics of the within-organism mtDNA population: among them, genetic bottlenecks, selection, and strictly maternal inheritance are known to shape the levels of heteroplasmy across mtDNAs. In Metazoa, the only evolutionarily stable exception to the strictly maternal inheritance of mitochondria is the doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI), reported in 100+ bivalve species. In DUI species, there are two highly divergent mtDNA lineages, one inherited through oocyte mitochondria (F-type) and the other through sperm mitochondria (M-type). Having both parents contributing to the mtDNA pool of the progeny makes DUI a unique system to study the dynamics of mtDNA populations. Since, in bivalves, the spermatozoon has few mitochondria (4–5), M-type mtDNA faces a tight bottleneck during embryo segregation, one of the narrowest mitochondrial bottlenecks investigated so far. Here, we analyzed the F- and M-type mtDNA variability within individuals of the DUI species Ruditapes philippinarum and investigated for the first time the effects of such a narrow bottleneck affecting mtDNA populations. As a potential consequence of this narrow bottleneck, the M-type mtDNA shows a large variability in different tissues, a condition so pronounced that it leads to genotypes from different tissues of the same individual not to cluster together. We believe that such results may help understanding the effect of low population size on mtDNA bottleneck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Iannello
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Bettinazzi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sophie Breton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fabrizio Ghiselli
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Liliana Milani
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
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14
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Sendra L, García-Mares A, Herrero MJ, Aliño SF. Mitochondrial DNA Replacement Techniques to Prevent Human Mitochondrial Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E551. [PMID: 33430493 PMCID: PMC7827455 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases are a group of maternally inherited genetic disorders caused by a lack of energy production. Currently, mtDNA diseases have a poor prognosis and no known cure. The chance to have unaffected offspring with a genetic link is important for the affected families, and mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs) allow them to do so. MRTs consist of transferring the nuclear DNA from an oocyte with pathogenic mtDNA to an enucleated donor oocyte without pathogenic mtDNA. This paper aims to determine the efficacy, associated risks, and main ethical and legal issues related to MRTs. Methods: A bibliographic review was performed on the MEDLINE and Web of Science databases, along with searches for related clinical trials and news. Results: A total of 48 publications were included for review. Five MRT procedures were identified and their efficacy was compared. Three main risks associated with MRTs were discussed, and the ethical views and legal position of MRTs were reviewed. Conclusions: MRTs are an effective approach to minimizing the risk of transmitting mtDNA diseases, but they do not remove it entirely. Global legal regulation of MRTs is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Sendra
- Unidad de Farmacogenética, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (L.S.); (S.F.A.)
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Alfredo García-Mares
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - María José Herrero
- Unidad de Farmacogenética, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (L.S.); (S.F.A.)
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Salvador F. Aliño
- Unidad de Farmacogenética, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (L.S.); (S.F.A.)
- Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
- Unidad de Farmacología Clínica, Área del Medicamento, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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15
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Qu T, Calabrese P, Singhavi P, Tower J. Incorporating antagonistic pleiotropy into models for molecular replicators. Biosystems 2020; 201:104333. [PMID: 33359635 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104333] [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: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In modern cells, chromosomal genes composed of DNA encode multi-subunit protein/RNA complexes that catalyze the replication of the chromosome and cell. One prevailing theory for the origin of life posits an early stage involving self-replicating macromolecules called replicators, which can be considered genes capable of self-replication. One prevailing theory for the genetics of aging in humans and other organisms is antagonistic pleiotropy, which posits that a gene can be beneficial in one context, and detrimental in another context. We previously reported that the conceptual simplicity of molecular replicators facilitates the generation of two simple models involving antagonistic pleiotropy. Here a third model is proposed, and each of the three models is presented with improved definition of the time variable. Computer simulations were used to calculate the proliferation of a hypothetical two-subunit replicator (AB), when one of the two subunits (B) exhibits antagonistic pleiotropy, leading to an advantage for B to be unstable. In model 1, instability of B yields free A subunits, which in turn stimulate the activity of other AB replicators. In model 2, B is lost and sometimes replaced by a more active mutant form, B'. In model 3, B becomes damaged and loses activity, and its instability allows it to be replaced by a new B. For each model, conditions were identified where instability of B was detrimental, and where instability of B was beneficial. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that antagonistic pleiotropy can promote molecular instability and system complexity, and provide further support for a model linking aging and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianjiao Qu
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Peter Calabrese
- Quantitative and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Pratik Singhavi
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - John Tower
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
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16
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Pereira RJ, Ruiz‐Ruano FJ, Thomas CJ, Pérez‐Ruiz M, Jiménez‐Bartolomé M, Liu S, Torre J, Bella JL. Mind the
numt
: Finding informative mitochondrial markers in a giant grasshopper genome. J ZOOL SYST EVOL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo J. Pereira
- Division of Evolutionary Biology Faculty of Biology II Ludwig‐ Maximilians‐Universität München Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Francisco J. Ruiz‐Ruano
- Department of Genetics University of Granada Granada Spain
- Department of Ecology and Genetics – Evolutionary Biology Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC) Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
- Department of Organismal Biology – Systematic Biology Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC) Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Callum J.E. Thomas
- Division of Evolutionary Biology Faculty of Biology II Ludwig‐ Maximilians‐Universität München Planegg‐Martinsried Germany
| | - Mar Pérez‐Ruiz
- Departamento de Biología (Genética) Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid Spain
| | - Miguel Jiménez‐Bartolomé
- Departamento de Biología (Genética) Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid Spain
| | - Shanlin Liu
- Department of Entomology College of Plant Protection China Agricultural University Beijing China
| | - Joaquina Torre
- Departamento de Biología (Genética) Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC‐UAM) Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid Spain
| | - José L. Bella
- Departamento de Biología (Genética) Facultad de Ciencias Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC‐UAM) Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Madrid Spain
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17
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Stewart JB, Chinnery PF. Extreme heterogeneity of human mitochondrial DNA from organelles to populations. Nat Rev Genet 2020; 22:106-118. [PMID: 32989265 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-020-00284-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Contrary to the long-held view that most humans harbour only identical mitochondrial genomes, deep resequencing has uncovered unanticipated extreme genetic variation within mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Most, if not all, humans contain multiple mtDNA genotypes (heteroplasmy); specific patterns of variants accumulate in different tissues, including cancers, over time; and some variants are preferentially passed down or suppressed in the maternal germ line. These findings cast light on the origin and spread of mtDNA mutations at multiple scales, from the organelle to the human population, and challenge the conventional view that high percentages of a mutation are required before a new variant has functional consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- James B Stewart
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany.,Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Patrick F Chinnery
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. .,Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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18
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Gitschlag BL, Tate AT, Patel MR. Nutrient status shapes selfish mitochondrial genome dynamics across different levels of selection. eLife 2020; 9:56686. [PMID: 32959778 PMCID: PMC7508553 DOI: 10.7554/elife.56686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperation and cheating are widespread evolutionary strategies. While cheating confers an advantage to individual entities within a group, competition between groups favors cooperation. Selfish or cheater mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) proliferates within hosts while being selected against at the level of host fitness. How does environment shape cheater dynamics across different selection levels? Focusing on food availability, we address this question using heteroplasmic Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that the proliferation of selfish mtDNA within hosts depends on nutrient status stimulating mtDNA biogenesis in the developing germline. Interestingly, mtDNA biogenesis is not sufficient for this proliferation, which also requires the stress-response transcription factor FoxO/DAF-16. At the level of host fitness, FoxO/DAF-16 also prevents food scarcity from accelerating the selection against selfish mtDNA. This suggests that the ability to cope with nutrient stress can promote host tolerance of cheaters. Our study delineates environmental effects on selfish mtDNA dynamics at different levels of selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan L Gitschlag
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Ann T Tate
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Maulik R Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, United States.,Diabetes Research and Training Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, United States
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19
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Abstract
Experiments on mitochondrial DNA in worms highlight that cheating does not always pay off.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Florencia Camus
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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20
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Karakaidos P, Rampias T. Mitonuclear Interactions in the Maintenance of Mitochondrial Integrity. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10090173. [PMID: 32878185 PMCID: PMC7555762 DOI: 10.3390/life10090173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In eukaryotic cells, mitochondria originated in an α-proteobacterial endosymbiont. Although these organelles harbor their own genome, the large majority of genes, originally encoded in the endosymbiont, were either lost or transferred to the nucleus. As a consequence, mitochondria have become semi-autonomous and most of their processes require the import of nuclear-encoded components to be functional. Therefore, the mitochondrial-specific translation has evolved to be coordinated by mitonuclear interactions to respond to the energetic demands of the cell, acquiring unique and mosaic features. However, mitochondrial-DNA-encoded genes are essential for the assembly of the respiratory chain complexes. Impaired mitochondrial function due to oxidative damage and mutations has been associated with numerous human pathologies, the aging process, and cancer. In this review, we highlight the unique features of mitochondrial protein synthesis and provide a comprehensive insight into the mitonuclear crosstalk and its co-evolution, as well as the vulnerabilities of the animal mitochondrial genome.
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21
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Recurrent horizontal transfer identifies mitochondrial positive selection in a transmissible cancer. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3059. [PMID: 32546718 PMCID: PMC7297733 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16765-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Autonomous replication and segregation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) creates the potential for evolutionary conflict driven by emergence of haplotypes under positive selection for 'selfish' traits, such as replicative advantage. However, few cases of this phenomenon arising within natural populations have been described. Here, we survey the frequency of mtDNA horizontal transfer within the canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT), a contagious cancer clone that occasionally acquires mtDNA from its hosts. Remarkably, one canine mtDNA haplotype, A1d1a, has repeatedly and recently colonised CTVT cells, recurrently replacing incumbent CTVT haplotypes. An A1d1a control region polymorphism predicted to influence transcription is fixed in the products of an A1d1a recombination event and occurs somatically on other CTVT mtDNA backgrounds. We present a model whereby 'selfish' positive selection acting on a regulatory variant drives repeated fixation of A1d1a within CTVT cells.
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22
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Abstract
Ever since its discovery, the double-stranded DNA contained in the mitochondria of eukaryotes has fascinated researchers because of its bacterial endosymbiotic origin, crucial role in encoding subunits of the respiratory complexes, compact nature, and specific inheritance mechanisms. In the last few years, high-throughput sequencing techniques have accelerated the sequencing of mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) and uncovered the great diversity of organizations, gene contents, and modes of replication and transcription found in living eukaryotes. Some early divergent lineages of unicellular eukaryotes retain certain synteny and gene content resembling those observed in the genomes of alphaproteobacteria (the inferred closest living group of mitochondria), whereas others adapted to anaerobic environments have drastically reduced or even lost the mitogenome. In the three main multicellular lineages of eukaryotes, mitogenomes have pursued diverse evolutionary trajectories in which different types of molecules (circular versus linear and single versus multipartite), gene structures (with or without self-splicing introns), gene contents, gene orders, genetic codes, and transfer RNA editing mechanisms have been selected. Whereas animals have evolved a rather compact mitochondrial genome between 11 and 50 Kb in length with a highly conserved gene content in bilaterians, plants exhibit large mitochondrial genomes of 66 Kb to 11.3 Mb with large intergenic repetitions prone to recombination, and fungal mitogenomes have intermediate sizes of 12 to 236 Kb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Zardoya
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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23
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Evolving mtDNA populations within cells. Biochem Soc Trans 2020; 47:1367-1382. [PMID: 31484687 PMCID: PMC6824680 DOI: 10.1042/bst20190238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes vital respiratory machinery. Populations of mtDNA molecules exist in most eukaryotic cells, subject to replication, degradation, mutation, and other population processes. These processes affect the genetic makeup of cellular mtDNA populations, changing cell-to-cell distributions, means, and variances of mutant mtDNA load over time. As mtDNA mutant load has nonlinear effects on cell functionality, and cell functionality has nonlinear effects on tissue performance, these statistics of cellular mtDNA populations play vital roles in health, disease, and inheritance. This mini review will describe some of the better-known ways in which these populations change over time in different organisms, highlighting the importance of quantitatively understanding both mutant load mean and variance. Due to length constraints, we cannot attempt to be comprehensive but hope to provide useful links to some of the many excellent studies on these topics.
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24
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Wagner JT, Howe DK, Estes S, Denver DR. Mitochondrial DNA Variation and Selfish Propagation Following Experimental Bottlenecking in Two Distantly Related Caenorhabditis briggsae Isolates. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11010077. [PMID: 31936803 PMCID: PMC7016712 DOI: 10.3390/genes11010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) evolution and inheritance has broad implications for animal speciation and human disease models. However, few natural models exist that can simultaneously represent mtDNA transmission bias, mutation, and copy number variation. Certain isolates of the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae harbor large, naturally-occurring mtDNA deletions of several hundred basepairs affecting the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nduo-5) gene that can be functionally detrimental. These deletion variants can behave as selfish DNA elements under genetic drift conditions, but whether all of these large deletion variants are transmitted in the same preferential manner remains unclear. In addition, the degree to which transgenerational mtDNA evolution profiles are shared between isolates that differ in their propensity to accumulate the nduo-5 deletion is also unclear. We address these knowledge gaps by experimentally bottlenecking two isolates of C. briggsae with different nduo-5 deletion frequencies for up to 50 generations and performing total DNA sequencing to identify mtDNA variation. We observed multiple mutation profile differences and similarities between C. briggsae isolates, a potentially species-specific pattern of copy number dysregulation, and some evidence for genetic hitchhiking in the deletion-bearing isolate. Our results further support C. briggsae as a practical model for characterizing naturally-occurring mtgenome variation and contribute to the understanding of how mtgenome variation persists in animal populations and how it presents in mitochondrial disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josiah T. Wagner
- Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) Center, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97201, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Dana K. Howe
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (D.K.H.); (D.R.D.)
| | - Suzanne Estes
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA;
| | - Dee R. Denver
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; (D.K.H.); (D.R.D.)
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25
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Klucnika A, Ma H. Mapping and editing animal mitochondrial genomes: can we overcome the challenges? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 375:20190187. [PMID: 31787046 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The animal mitochondrial genome, although small, can have a big impact on health and disease. Non-pathogenic sequence variation among mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes influences traits including fertility, healthspan and lifespan, whereas pathogenic mutations are linked to incurable mitochondrial diseases and other complex conditions like ageing, diabetes, cancer and neurodegeneration. However, we know very little about how mtDNA genetic variation contributes to phenotypic differences. Infrequent recombination, the multicopy nature and nucleic acid-impenetrable membranes present significant challenges that hamper our ability to precisely map mtDNA variants responsible for traits, and to genetically modify mtDNA so that we can isolate specific mutants and characterize their biochemical and physiological consequences. Here, we summarize the past struggles and efforts in developing systems to map and edit mtDNA. We also assess the future of performing forward and reverse genetic studies on animal mitochondrial genomes. This article is part of the theme issue 'Linking the mitochondrial genotype to phenotype: a complex endeavour'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Klucnika
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.,Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
| | - Hansong Ma
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.,Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EH, UK
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