Energy, ageing, fidelity and sex: oocyte mitochondrial DNA as a protected genetic template

by Wilson B. M. de Paula, Cathy H. Lucas, Ahmed-Noor A. Agip, Gema Vizcay-Barrena, and John F. Allen

Philosophical Transactions BVolume 368(1622):20120263

July 19, 2013

©2013 by The Royal Society

Outline diagram of a mitochondrial inner membrane.

Wilson B. M. de Paula et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2013;368:20120263

©2013 by The Royal Society

Hypothesis: sequestration of mitochondria of the female germ line as genetic templates, inactive in ATP synthesis.

Wilson B. M. de Paula et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2013;368:20120263

©2013 by The Royal Society

Relative quantities of mRNA from the mitochondrial genes nad1 (blue), cob (green) and cox1 (yellow) in different tissue samples from male and female medusae of the jellyfish, Aurelia aurita.

mRNA quantities are colour coded according to the gene transcribed...

Wilson B. M. de Paula et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2013;368:20120263

©2013 by The Royal Society

Transmission electron micrographs of A. aurita tissue samples.

Wilson B. M. de Paula et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2013;368:20120263

©2013 by The Royal Society

Mitochondrial membrane potential in male and female gonad samples of live A. aurita.

Wilson B. M. de Paula et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2013;368:20120263

©2013 by The Royal Society

ROS content in male and female gonad samples of live A. aurita.

Wilson B. M. de Paula et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2013;368:20120263

©2013 by The Royal Society

Weismann's concept of the continuity of the germ-plasm [95] extended to mitochondria.

Wilson B. M. de Paula et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 2013;368:20120263

©2013 by The Royal Society