Understanding why mammalian eggs have so much mitochondrial DNA

在卵母细胞生长期间，线粒体DNA的复制大量增加，使得每个排卵的卵子具有200，000 - 400，000个线粒体基因组拷贝。这种线粒体互补物将为随后的生物体中的所有线粒体DNA提供模板。线粒体的既定作用是以ATP的形式提供能量，但它们也被认为对细胞的代谢和能量状态具有高度适应性。在这个项目中，我们将使用遗传学方法将卵母细胞线粒体DNA的数量减少90%。我们将研究这如何影响线粒体组织，卵母细胞代谢和胚胎发育。这些新知识将为动物育种和人类健康提供见解。

During oocyte growth there is massive increase in the replication of mitochondrial DNA so that each ovulated egg has 200,000-400,000 copies of the mitochondrial genome. This mitochondrial compliment will provide the template for all mitochondrial DNA in the subsequent organism. The established role of mitochondria is to provide energy in the form of ATP, but they are also known to be highly adaptive to the metabolic and energetic state of the cell. In this project, we will use genetic approaches to decrease the amount of oocyte mitochondrial DNA by 90%. We will examine how this influences mitochondrial organisation, oocyte metabolism and embryo development. This new knowledge will provide insights into animal breeding and human health.