Quantifying the transgenerational impact of maternal stress upon sperm mitochondria

Applicants

John Lees, Uppsala University and Jane Morrell, SLU.

Abstract

How biological information is transferred from parent to offspring has been a long-lasting central question in biology. Although genomic DNA is, of course, the primary means by which biological information is transferred across generations, it has become clear that epigenetic agents within germinal cells can impart information across generations. Recent evidence in C. elegans implicates the mitochondria as a novel but important transgenerational messenger of maternal stress, primarily through variation in oocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number. Given that mtDNA copy number and integrity is correlated with male fertility parameters, the idea that maternally inherited mtDNA may maintain a memory of the mother’s environment poses a number of interesting and unanswered questions regarding male fertility. With this project, we will investigate the potential for the maternal metabolic environment to influence the mitochondria of her offspring. In particular, we will investigate the influence of maternal metabolic stress in chickens upon sperm mitochondria in sons, identifying fertility-relevant markers including mtDNA copy number as well as mtDNA methylation.