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Related Experiment Videos

Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy: Are Mito-nuclear Interactions Likely To Be a Problem?

Adam Eyre-Walker1

  • 1School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom a.c.eyre-walker@sussex.ac.uk.

Genetics
|April 1, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) is unlikely to cause harmful mito-nuclear interactions. Evidence suggests this technique is safe, as genetic incompatibilities are rare in humans undergoing MRT.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) involves placing a mitochondrial genome into a novel nuclear environment.
  • Concerns exist regarding potential deleterious interactions between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear genomes in MRT.
  • Normal reproduction involves mtDNA co-evolution with the maternal nuclear genome, suggesting inherent compatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence on the potential risks of mito-nuclear interactions in MRT.
  • To assess the safety and biological feasibility of mitochondrial replacement therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental evidence from human and other species regarding mito-nuclear interactions in MRT.
  • Application of population genetic theory to predict the prevalence of deleterious mito-nuclear interactions.
Keywords:
coadaptationmito-nuclear incompatibilitymito-nuclear interactionmitochondrial replacement therapy

Related Experiment Videos

  • Meta-analysis of 231 cases of mitochondrial DNA introgression across different species.

    • Main Results:

    • The majority of experimental evidence indicates that MRT is not harmful.
    • Population genetic theory suggests significant deleterious mito-nuclear interactions are unlikely in humans due to low population differentiation.
    • A meta-analysis of mtDNA introgression cases showed little tendency for harm.

    Conclusions:

    • Mito-nuclear interactions are unlikely to pose a significant problem for mitochondrial replacement therapy.
    • Current evidence supports the safety of MRT concerning genetic compatibility between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes.
    • The findings suggest MRT is a viable reproductive technology with minimal risk of genetic incompatibility.