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Strong purifying selection in transmission of mammalian mitochondrial DNA.

ABSTRACT: There is an intense debate concerning whether selection or demographics has been most important in shaping the sequence variation observed in modern human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Purifying selection is thought to be important in shaping mtDNA sequence evolution, but the strength of this selection has been debated, mainly due to the threshold effect of pathogenic mtDNA mutations and an observed excess of new mtDNA mutations in human population data. We experimentally addressed this issue by studying the maternal transmission of random mtDNA mutations in mtDNA mutator mice expressing a proofreading-deficient mitochondrial DNA polymerase. We report a rapid and strong elimination of nonsynonymous changes in protein-coding genes; the hallmark of purifying selection. There are striking similarities between the mutational patterns in our experimental mouse system and human mtDNA polymorphisms. These data show strong purifying selection against mutations within mtDNA protein-coding genes. To our knowledge, our study presents the first direct experimental observations of the fate of random mtDNA mutations in the mammalian germ line and demonstrates the importance of purifying selection in shaping mitochondrial sequence diversity.

SUBMITTER: Stewart JB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2214808 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Strong purifying selection in transmission of mammalian mitochondrial DNA.

Stewart James Bruce JB Freyer Christoph C Elson Joanna L JL Wredenberg Anna A Cansu Zekiye Z Trifunovic Aleksandra A Larsson Nils-Göran NG

PLoS biology 20080101 1

There is an intense debate concerning whether selection or demographics has been most important in shaping the sequence variation observed in modern human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Purifying selection is thought to be important in shaping mtDNA sequence evolution, but the strength of this selection has been debated, mainly due to the threshold effect of pathogenic mtDNA mutations and an observed excess of new mtDNA mutations in human population data. We experimentally addressed this issue by st ...[more]

PMID: 18232733

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Project description:Study questionDoes selection for mtDNA mutations occur in human oocytes?Summary answerWe provide statistical evidence in favor of the existence of purifying selection for mtDNA mutations in human oocytes acting between the expulsion of the first and second polar bodies (PBs).What is known alreadySeveral lines of evidence in Metazoa, including humans, indicate that variation within the germline of mitochondrial genomes is under purifying selection. The presence of this internal selection filter in the germline has important consequences for the evolutionary trajectory of mtDNA. However, the nature and localization of this internal filter are still unclear while several hypotheses are proposed in the literature.Study design, size, durationIn this study, 60 mitochondrial genomes were sequenced from 17 sets of oocytes, first and second PBs, and peripheral blood taken from nine women between 38 and 43 years of age.Participants/materials, setting, methodsWhole genome amplification was performed only on the single cell samples and Sanger sequencing was performed on amplicons. The comparison of variant profiles between first and second PB sequences showed no difference in substitution rates but displayed instead a sharp difference in pathogenicity scores of protein-coding sequences using three different metrics (MutPred, Polyphen and SNPs&GO).Main results and the role of chanceUnlike the first, second PBs showed no significant differences in pathogenic scores with blood and oocyte sequences. This suggests that a filtering mechanism for disadvantageous variants operates during oocyte development between the expulsion of the first and second PB.Large scale dataN/A.Limitations, reasons for cautionThe sample size is small and further studies are needed before this approach can be used in clinical practice. Studies on a model organism would allow the sample size to be increased.Wider implications of the findingsThis work opens the way to the study of the correlation between mtDNA mutations, mitochondrial capacity and viability of oocytes.Study funding/competing interest(s)This work was supported by a SISMER grant. Laboratory facilities and skills were freely provided by SISMER, and by the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna. The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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Strong purifying selection in transmission of mammalian mitochondrial DNA.

Publications

Strong purifying selection in transmission of mammalian mitochondrial DNA.

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