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Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization
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Paternal mtDNA and maleness are co-inherited but not causally linked in mytilid mussels

Ellen L Kenchington1, Lorraine Hamilton, Andrew Cogswell

  • 1Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Kenchingtone@mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Plos One
|September 18, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Marine mussels possess two mitochondrial genomes, one maternally and one paternally inherited. This study shows maleness and paternal mitochondrial genome inheritance can be decoupled, with females controlling paternal genome transmission to offspring.

Area of Science:

  • Marine biology
  • Genetics
  • Mitochondrial DNA inheritance

Background:

  • Marine mussels (Mytilus) exhibit unusual dual mitochondrial genome transmission.
  • Typically, only maternal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited in animals.
  • Males show a mixed pattern: paternal mtDNA in germ cells, maternal in somatic cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal relationship between paternal mtDNA inheritance and maleness in Mytilus.
  • To understand the control mechanisms of dual mtDNA inheritance in bivalves.

Main Methods:

  • Hybrid crosses in Mytilus.
  • Analysis of triploid mussels.
  • Observation of sperm mitochondria in fertilized eggs.

Main Results:

  • Maleness and paternal mtDNA presence were decoupled, demonstrating they are not causally linked.
  • Female mussels exclusively control the inheritance of the paternal mitochondrial genome by their progeny.
  • Sperm mitochondria are present in fertilized eggs, but their transmission is regulated.

Conclusions:

  • Findings clarify the mechanistic basis of unusual mtDNA inheritance in bivalves.
  • Decoupling maleness and paternal mtDNA inheritance provides new insights into genetic control.
  • Female control over paternal mtDNA inheritance is a key factor in this phenomenon.

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