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Probing for Mitochondrial Complex Activity in Human Embryonic Stem Cells
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Mitochondrial DNA deletions in primate embryonic and adult stem cells

T C Gibson1, Y Pei, T M Quebedeaux

  • 1Department of Biology, Reproductive Biotechnology Laboratory, 2045 Lakeshore Drive, CERM Suite 541, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Reproductive Biomedicine Online
|February 4, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, including the common deletion, are found in rhesus macaque oocytes, embryos, and stem cells. This accumulation may impair ATP production, highlighting the need for parallel stem cell technology development.

Area of Science:

  • Primatology
  • Mitochondrial Genetics
  • Stem Cell Biology

Background:

  • Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations naturally occur in aged rhesus macaque skeletal muscle and fertile monkey oocytes.
  • The presence and accumulation of mtDNA mutations are critical factors in cellular aging and dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of the rhesus macaque mitochondrial common deletion in oocytes, in-vitro produced embryos, and various stem cell lines.
  • To compare mtDNA mutation levels in adult stem cell lines and their immortalized counterparts.

Main Methods:

  • Detection of the rhesus common deletion in DNA from oocytes, IVP embryos, embryonic stem cell lines (ORMES 1, 2, 7; R4), adult bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC), and adult adipose stromal cells (ATSC).
  • Comparison of mtDNA mutation levels between standard ATSC lines and telomerase-immortalized ATSC-TERT lines.

Main Results:

  • The rhesus common deletion was identified in IVP embryos, IVP-derived and in-vivo-derived embryonic stem cell lines, and adult bone marrow stromal cell lines.
  • Adult adipose stromal cell lines showed significantly higher levels of the rhesus common deletion compared to the immortalized ATSC-TERT line.

Conclusions:

  • Accumulation of mtDNA mutations in oocytes, embryos, and stem cell lines may lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired ATP production.
  • The findings support the parallel development of non-human primate and human embryonic stem cell technologies.

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