Aberrant nucleo-cytoplasmic cross-talk results in donor cell mtDNA persistence in cloned embryos.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial DNA is an extranuclear genome normally maternally inherited through the oocyte. However, the use of nuclear transfer can result in both donor cell and recipient oocyte mitochondrial DNA persisting through to blastocyst and being transmitted to the offspring. The degree of donor mitochondrial DNA transmission appears to be random and currently no evidence exists to explain this phenomenon. To determine whether this is a dilution factor or directly related to the transcriptional status of the donor cell in respect of mitochondrial DNA transcription factors, we have generated sheep nuclear transfer embryos using donor cells: (1) possessing their full mitochondrial DNA complement, (2) those partially depleted, and (3) those depleted but containing residual levels. For each donor

SUBMITTER: Lloyd RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1456417 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature