Most of the DNA in our cells exists inside the nucleus. This DNA was inherited in equal proportions from each of our parents. However, there is also some DNA floating inside another cell organelle, the mitochondria. The mitochondria is where almost all the energy our body requires is produced, so defects in this DNA can cause serious problems. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is unique because it is inherited only from the mother.
As a result,if the mother is known to carry defective mtDNA, the baby is guaranteed to carry some amount of this defect. Using mtDNA from a donor can prevent this – but also comes with the ethical implications of a baby who carries genes from three individuals, earning this childthe tag ‘three-parent baby’.
While it is well-documented that almost all animals inherit mtDNA only from their mothers, the mechanism by which this occurs is still not understood. When the sperm cell and egg cell unite during fertilisation, somehow the paternal mtDNA is removed from the picture. “What we have is a molecular/cellular machine designed to target and eliminate paternal mitochondria,” said Mukund Thattai, a biologist at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, in an email interview. “How does biology do this with so little error?”
A study published on June 23 in the journal Scienceby an international group of scientists has yielded some answers. While observing fertilisation in a commonly used model organism – a roundworm called Caenorhabditis elegans– they saw that paternal mitochondria rapidly disintegrated. This disintegration appearsto trigger a protein called CPS-6, which resides in the space between the outer and inner membranes of the paternal mitochondria. That is: CPS-6 relocated from the inter-membrane space into the matrix of the mitochondria and facilitated the breakdown of paternal mtDNA.
Now partially-destroyed, the paternal mitochondria is engulfed by bubble-like structures in the cell called autophagosomes, lead the debris to the waste disposal organelle of cells (called lysosomes). The scientists tested the effect of fertilisation with the sperm cell missing CPS-6 and found that paternal mitochondria took much longer to get eliminated. This had deadly consequences. “Delayed removal of paternal mitochondria causes increased embryonic lethality,” the authors report in their study, demonstrating that the timely elimination of paternal mtDNA is important for normal animal development.
The reason paternal mtDNA seems harmful at all to a developing embryo is still being studied. “It’s not really a question of paternal versusmaternal mitochondria – after all, the paternal mitochondria was maternal just a generation ago,” said Thattai, who was not involved in the new study. Rather, he explained, it was probably an issue of mixing of maternal and paternal mitochondrial proteins in the embryo. “It turns out that these proteins are different enough that they don’t quite ‘fit together’ to do the main job they’re supposed to: energy synthesis.”
But if this is the case, why not get rid of the maternal mitochondria and keep the paternal copy instead? “There is some evidence that the paternal copies, having burned so much energy fertilising the eggs, might have accumulated a lot of mutations from free-radical damage. So best to stick with the maternal copies,” explainedThattai.
It must however be kept in mind that this study was done on roundworms, not humans. However, maternal inheritance’s being such a widespread occurrence across most organismssuggests that a similar mechanism may underlie the phenomenon in other species, too. For example, humans have a protein involved in DNA degradation called endonuclease G that is very similar to CPS-6. It’s worth studying, but Thattai reminds us that doing the same fertilisation experiment in humans is ethically problematic. “A mouse version would be a good next step. If found in mice, then it hugely increases the likelihood it happens in humans.”
The article delves into mitochondrial DNA inheritance, focusing on how paternal mitochondria are eliminated during fertilization and why maternal inheritance is predominant. My expertise in genetics and cellular biology aligns with these concepts.
Mitochondria are crucial for energy production, and their DNA, separate from nuclear DNA, comes solely from the mother. This unique inheritance pattern is pivotal for understanding hereditary diseases linked to mitochondrial DNA defects. The mechanism of paternal mitochondrial elimination during fertilization has long intrigued researchers.
The study in the article, conducted on Caenorhabditis elegans, sheds light on this process. It highlights CPS-6, a protein involved in paternal mitochondria breakdown. When paternal mitochondria disintegrate, CPS-6 relocates and triggers degradation of paternal mtDNA. This discovery links timely elimination of paternal mtDNA to normal animal development, as delayed removal led to increased embryonic lethality.
The debate on why paternal mtDNA poses a risk to embryos is ongoing. It's not a simple matter of paternal versus maternal mitochondria but likely pertains to the compatibility of their proteins for energy synthesis. Differences in these proteins hinder their ability to work together efficiently.
Regarding why maternal mtDNA prevails, the accumulation of mutations in paternal copies due to free-radical damage from the fertilization process might render them less reliable for inheritance. Therefore, the maternal copy, despite its mixing issues, is deemed more viable.
This study, while conducted on roundworms, suggests a potentially similar mechanism in other species due to the prevalence of maternal inheritance. Exploring analogous proteins in humans, such as endonuclease G, hints at comparable processes, although direct experiments in humans pose ethical challenges.
Continuing research, potentially in mice, could strengthen the likelihood of this mechanism occurring in humans. Understanding mitochondrial inheritance has significant implications for hereditary diseases and reproductive technologies, like the controversial "three-parent baby" approach, aiming to prevent mitochondrial defects.
My knowledge extends beyond this article, encompassing various genetic inheritance patterns, cellular processes, and the role of mitochondria in health and disease. If you have further queries or wish to explore related topics, feel free to ask!
