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Preparation of Mitochondrial Enriched Fractions for Metabolic Analysis in Drosophila
Published on: September 30, 2015
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EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FOR MITOCHONDRIAL DNA INTROGRESSION BETWEEN DROSOPHILA SPECIES
Josiane Aubert1, Michel Solignac1
1Laboratoire de Biologie et Génétique Evolutives, C.N.R.S., 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, FRANCE.
Summary
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from Drosophila simulans can rapidly replace native mtDNA in Drosophila mauritiana populations. This cytoplasmic introgression is likely driven by nuclear-level hybrid advantage, despite male sterility.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
- Zoology
Background:
- Differential introgression explains individuals with foreign mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).
- Drosophila mauritiana exhibits high rates of foreign mtDNA, primarily from Drosophila simulans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally test differential mtDNA introgression between D. mauritiana and D. simulans.
- To investigate the factors influencing the success of cytoplasmic introgression.
Main Methods:
- Controlled introduction of single virgin females of one species into populations of the other.
- Monitoring mtDNA frequency changes over multiple generations.
- Assessing the impact of inbreeding on introgression success.
Main Results:
- D. simulans mtDNA rapidly displaced D. mauritiana mtDNA within three generations (frequency up to 0.80).
- Reciprocal introgression from D. mauritiana to D. simulans was significantly less successful.
- Hybrid male sterility likely limits nuclear gene introgression.
- Cytoplasmic introgression success in D. mauritiana depended on recipient strain inbreeding.
Conclusions:
- Experimental results support selective advantage of hybrids promoting mtDNA transfer from D. simulans to D. mauritiana.
- Introgressive hybridization is a key mechanism for mtDNA displacement in these species.
