Telomere length in offspring is determined by mitochondrial-nuclear communication at fertilization.

ABSTRACT: The initial setting of telomere length during early life in each individual has a major influence on lifetime risk of aging-associated diseases; however there is limited knowledge of biological signals that regulate inheritance of telomere length, and whether it is modifiable is not known. We now show that when mitochondrial activity is disrupted in mouse zygotes, via exposure to 20% O₂ or rotenone, telomere elongation between the 8-cell and blastocyst stage is impaired, with shorter telomeres apparent in the pluripotent Inner Cell Mass (ICM) and persisting after organogenesis. Identical defects of elevated mtROS in zygotes followed by impaired telomere elongation, occurred with maternal obesity or advanced age. We further demonstrate that telomere elongation during ICM formatio

SUBMITTER: Winstanley YE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11909127 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature