Different degree of paternal mtDNA leakage between male and female progeny in interspecific Drosophila crosses.

ABSTRACT: Maternal transmission of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in animals is thought to prevent the spread of selfish deleterious mtDNA mutations in the population. Various mechanisms have been evolved independently to prevent the entry of sperm mitochondria in the embryo. However, the increasing number of instances of paternal mtDNA leakage suggests that these mechanisms are not very effective. The destruction of sperm mitochondria in mammalian embryos is mediated by nuclear factors. Also, the destruction of paternal mitochondria in intraspecific crosses is more effective than in interspecific ones. These observations have led to the hypothesis that leakage of paternal mtDNA (and consequently mtDNA recombination owing to ensuing heteroplasmy) might be more common in inter- than in intraspecific cross

SUBMITTER: Dokianakis E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4113288 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature