Doubly uniparental inheritance of mitochondria as a model system for studying germ line formation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Doubly Uniparental Inheritance (DUI) of mitochondria occurs when both mothers and fathers are capable of transmitting mitochondria to their offspring, in contrast to the typical Strictly Maternal Inheritance (SMI). DUI was found in some bivalve molluscs, in which two mitochondrial genomes are inherited, one through eggs, the other through sperm. During male embryo development, spermatozoon mitochondria aggregate in proximity of the first cleavage furrow and end up in the primordial germ cells, while they are dispersed in female embryos.

Methodology/principal findings

We used MitoTracker, microtubule staining and transmission electron microscopy to examine the mechanisms of this unusual distribution of sperm mitochondria in the DUI species Ruditapes philippinarum.

SUBMITTER: Milani L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3226660 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature