Event

I will present my lab’s efforts to study the biology of cheater mitochondrial genomes. Because cells contain multiple independently replicating mitochondrial genomes, wildtype and mutant copies can coexist. Wildtype genomes can be viewed as cooperators that produce energy for the collective good of the cell, whereas mutant genomes can cheat by reaping the benefit of being replicated without making functional contributions. We have discovered that cheater mitochondrial genomes exploit cellular stress response pathways in the female germline for their selfish proliferation. We also find that nutrient availability is an important determinant of cheater proliferation. We have mapped the molecular basis of this link to the insulin signaling pathway. Finally, I will show our efforts to understand the fundamental question of how cells count mitochondrial genomes, and the consequences of mis-counting on cheater dynamics. Our findings provide insights into mitochondrial genome disorders as well the biological principles of cooperation and cheating.

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