Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

MitoCeption: Transferring Isolated Human MSC Mitochondria to Glioblastoma Stem Cells
Published on: February 22, 2017
Proliferation of donor mitochondrial DNA in nuclear transfer calves (Bos taurus) derived from cumulus cells
Kumiko Takeda1, Satoshi Akagi, Kanako Kaneyama
1Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, National Agricultural Research Organization, Ikenodai 2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0901, Japan. kumiko@affrc.go.jp
Abstract:
In embryos derived by nuclear-transfer (NT), fusion of donor cell and recipient oocyte caused mitochondrial heteroplasmy. Previous studies from other laboratories have reported either elimination or maintenance of donor-derived mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from somatic cells in cloned animals. Here we examined the distribution of donor mtDNA in NT embryos and calves derived from somatic cells. Donor mitochondria were clearly observed by fluorescence labeling in the cytoplasm of NT embryos immediately after fusion; however, fluorescence diminished to undetectable levels at 24 hr after nuclear transfer. By PCR-mediated single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis, donor mtDNAs were not detected in the NT embryos immediately after fusion (less than 3-4%). In contrast, three of nine NT calves exhibited heteroplasmy with donor cell mtDNA populations ranging from 6 to 40%. These results provide the first evidence of a significant replicative advantage of donor mtDNAs to recipient mtDNAs during the course of embryogenesis in NT calves from somatic cells.
Related Concept Videos
Reproductive Cloning
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer
In SCNT, an egg cell is taken from an animal and its nucleus is removed, creating an enucleated egg. Then a somatic cell—any cell that is not a sex...
Non-nuclear Inheritance
Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
Introduction to Nuclear Reprogramming
Cloning of Dolly the Sheep
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

