Transcriptomic analysis of human cybrid cell lines harboring increasing levels of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 3243A>G mutation
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ABSTRACT: Mitochondria generate signals of adaptation that regulate nuclear genes expression via retrograde signaling. But this phenomenon is complexified when qualitatively different mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) coexist within cells. Although this cellular state of heteroplasmy leads to divergent phenotypes clinically, its consequences on cellular function and the cellular transcriptome are unknown. To interrogate this phenomenon, we generated somatic cell cybrids harboring increasing levels of a common mtDNA mutation (tRNALeu(UUR) 3243A>G) and mapped the resulting cellular phenotypes and transcriptional profiles across the complete range of heteroplasmy. Small increases in mutant mtDNAs caused relatively modest defect in mitochondrial oxidative capacity, but resulted in sharp transitions in mitochondrial ultrastructure and in the nuclear and mitochondrial transcriptomes, with the critical functional threshold corresponding to the induction of epigenetic regulatory systems. Principal component analysis underscores how each heteroplasmy level occupies a different "transcriptional space", with low levels heteroplasmy (20-30%) producing a dose-response linear progression in one direction, and mutationload of 50, 60 and 90% producing changes in the opposite direction. Hence, subtle changes in mitochondrial energetics can act through the epigenome to generate the phenotypes of the common “complex” diseases.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE56158 | GEO | 2014/09/02
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA242607
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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