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Extensive paternal mtDNA leakage in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster

Maria D S Nunes1, Marlies Dolezal, Christian Schlötterer

  • 1Institut für Populationsgenetik, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Molecular Ecology
|March 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Paternal leakage of animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is more common than previously thought, affecting 14% of individuals. This pervasive heteroplasmy, with a paternal leakage rate of 6%, can bias evolutionary studies using mtDNA markers.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is typically inherited strictly maternally in animals.
  • Paternal leakage, the transmission of mtDNA from fathers, is considered a rare event.
  • Accurate estimation of paternal leakage frequency is crucial for understanding mtDNA evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the frequency of paternal leakage in natural populations.
  • To assess the impact of heteroplasmy on mtDNA evolution.
  • To investigate potential selection pressures and recombination rates of mtDNA.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized allele-specific real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) to detect heteroplasmy.
  • Analyzed mtDNA haplotype distribution in offspring from heteroplasmic mothers.
  • Estimated paternal leakage rates and haplotype sorting times.

Main Results:

  • Identified heteroplasmy in at least 14% of individuals in natural populations.
  • Observed a low average frequency (0.8%) of minor mtDNA haplotypes, explaining previous underdetection.
  • Estimated a paternal leakage rate of 6% and a haplotype sorting time of over 100 generations.
  • Found no strong evidence for selection against specific haplotypes or for recombination between mtDNA molecules.

Conclusions:

  • Paternal leakage is a common phenomenon in natural populations, challenging the strict maternal inheritance model.
  • Pervasive heteroplasmy due to paternal leakage can significantly bias evolutionary studies relying on mtDNA markers.
  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of paternal leakage and the absence of recombination.

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