scholarly journals Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Variation Across Human Cancers

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Reznik ◽  
Martin Miller ◽  
Yasin Senbabaoglu ◽  
Nadeem Riaz ◽  
William Lee ◽  
...  

In cancer, mitochondrial dysfunction, through mutations, deletions, and changes in copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), contributes to the malignant transformation and progression of tumors. Here, we report the first large-scale survey of mtDNA copy number variation across 21 distinct solid tumor types, examining over 13,000 tissue samples profiled with next-generation sequencing methods. We find a tendency for cancers, especially of the bladder and kidney, to be significantly depleted of mtDNA, relative to matched normal tissue. We show that mtDNA copy number is correlated to the expression of mitochondrially-localized metabolic pathways, suggesting that mtDNA copy number variation reflect gross changes in mitochondrial metabolic activity. Finally, we identify a subset of tumor-type-specific somatic alterations, including IDH1 and NF1 mutations in gliomas, whose incidence is strongly correlated to mtDNA copy number. Our findings suggest that modulation of mtDNA copy number may play a role in the pathology of cancer.

eLife ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Reznik ◽  
Martin L Miller ◽  
Yasin Şenbabaoğlu ◽  
Nadeem Riaz ◽  
Judy Sarungbam ◽  
...  

Mutations, deletions, and changes in copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), are observed throughout cancers. Here, we survey mtDNA copy number variation across 22 tumor types profiled by The Cancer Genome Atlas project. We observe a tendency for some cancers, especially of the bladder, breast, and kidney, to be depleted of mtDNA, relative to matched normal tissue. Analysis of genetic context reveals an association between incidence of several somatic alterations, including IDH1 mutations in gliomas, and mtDNA content. In some but not all cancer types, mtDNA content is correlated with the expression of respiratory genes, and anti-correlated to the expression of immune response and cell-cycle genes. In tandem with immunohistochemical evidence, we find that some tumors may compensate for mtDNA depletion to sustain levels of respiratory proteins. Our results highlight the extent of mtDNA copy number variation in tumors and point to related therapeutic opportunities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 211025
Author(s):  
Ulrich Knief ◽  
Wolfgang Forstmeier ◽  
Bart Kempenaers ◽  
Jochen B. W. Wolf

The propulsion of sperm cells via movement of the flagellum is of vital importance for successful fertilization. While the exact mechanism of energy production for this movement varies between species, in avian species energy is thought to come predominantly from the mitochondria located in the sperm midpiece. Larger midpieces may contain more mitochondria, which should enhance the energetic capacity and possibly promote mobility. Due to an inversion polymorphism on their sex chromosome TguZ , zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata castanotis ) exhibit large within-species variation in sperm midpiece length, and those sperm with the longest midpieces swim the fastest. Here, we test through quantitative real-time PCR in zebra finch ejaculates whether the inversion genotype has an effect on the copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We find that zebra finches carrying the derived allele (correlated with longer sperm midpieces) have more copies of the mtDNA in their ejaculates than those homozygous for the ancestral allele (shorter midpieces). We suggest downstream effects of mtDNA copy number variation on the rate of adenosine triphosphate production, which in turn may influence sperm swimming speed and fertilization success. Central components of gamete energy metabolism may thus be the proximate cause for a fitness-relevant genetic polymorphism, stabilizing a megabase-scale inversion at an intermediate allele frequency in the wild.


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