title: Mitochondrial DNA transcription levels during spermatogenesis and early development in doubly uniparental inheritance of the mitochondrial DNA system of the blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.
abstract: In some species of bivalve, there are two highly diverged mitochondrial genomes, one found in all individuals (F type) and the other normally in males only (M type). In Mytilus, a maternally-dependent sex ratio of the progeny has been reported. Some females almost exclusively produce daughters, while others produce a high proportion of sons. We previously reported that in M. galloprovincialis, M type mtDNA copy number may be maintained during spermatogenesis and the development of larvae of male-biased mothers to sustain the doubly uniparental inheritance system. In this study, we investigated transcription levels of M type mtDNA before and after fertilization to understand its function in the germ line. First, we quantified transcription levels of M type mtDNA in testicular cells dissected using laser-capture micro-dissection. The transcription levels of M type mtDNA were not significantly different between spermatogonia and spermatocytes versus spermatids and spermatozoa. Next, we examined differences in transcription levels of M type mtDNA between larvae from male-biased and female-biased mothers. The transcription levels of M type mtDNA significantly increased 24 and 48 h after fertilization in male-biased crosses. By contrast, transcription levels significantly decreased in female-biased crosses. These results suggest M type mtDNA may play a role in early germ line formation.
authors.affiliation: Mie University, Tsu, Mie, Japan. natsumi5@bio.mie-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Natsumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Mayu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obata
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komaru
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D049878:Mytilus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D000077278:RNA, Mitochondrial; D012313:RNA