Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>

Experimental mito-nuclear introgression lines (MNILs) were established by backcrossing isofemale lines of <i>D. subobscura</i> originating from the same populations. MNILs were subjected to a series of life-history experiments designed to test the fitness of the bearers of different comb...

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Main Authors: Pavle Erić, Marija Savić Veselinović, Aleksandra Patenković, Marija Tanasković, Bojan Kenig, Katarina Erić, Boris Inđić, Stefan Stanovčić, Mihailo Jelić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Insects
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/415
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author Pavle Erić
Marija Savić Veselinović
Aleksandra Patenković
Marija Tanasković
Bojan Kenig
Katarina Erić
Boris Inđić
Stefan Stanovčić
Mihailo Jelić
author_facet Pavle Erić
Marija Savić Veselinović
Aleksandra Patenković
Marija Tanasković
Bojan Kenig
Katarina Erić
Boris Inđić
Stefan Stanovčić
Mihailo Jelić
author_sort Pavle Erić
collection DOAJ
description Experimental mito-nuclear introgression lines (MNILs) were established by backcrossing isofemale lines of <i>D. subobscura</i> originating from the same populations. MNILs were subjected to a series of life-history experiments designed to test the fitness of the bearers of different combinations of two main mtDNA haplotypes on their own nuclear background, as well as on the background of the opposite haplotype. By having 11 replicas of the four mito-nuclear combinations, we could test not only the adaptive significance of the differences between the two main haplotypes but also the influence of additional variation present within each of the 11 combinations on fitness. Testing the fitness of individuals of both sexes enabled us to examine if sex-specific selection has a role in maintaining the frequencies of the two mtDNA haplotypes in nature. Conducting the fitness assays on two different temperatures enabled us to test whether different temperatures favor specific mtDNA haplotypes or mito-nuclear genotypes and consequently promote stable sympatric mtDNA variation. The results show weak signature of genotype-by-environment interactions, and no sex-specific selection regarding differences between the two main haplotypes. However, individual models across different life-history components showed these two mechanisms at play in promoting mtDNA variability present in specific mito-nuclear crosses. Our models show that mito-nuclear interactions are, in fact, more important as units of selection.
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spelling doaj-art-a7edb472b6764711999fcefdd59d190d2025-08-20T02:18:16ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-04-0116441510.3390/insects16040415Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>Pavle Erić0Marija Savić Veselinović1Aleksandra Patenković2Marija Tanasković3Bojan Kenig4Katarina Erić5Boris Inđić6Stefan Stanovčić7Mihailo Jelić8Department of Genetics of Populations and Ecogenotoxicology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Genetics of Populations and Ecogenotoxicology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Genetics of Populations and Ecogenotoxicology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaThe Center for Promotion of Science, Kralja Petra 46, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Genetics of Populations and Ecogenotoxicology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, SerbiaForest Microbial Genomics Group, Faculty of Forestry, Institute of Forest and Natural Resource Management, University of Sopron, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky str. 4, H-9400 Sopron, HungaryInstitute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Vojvode Stepe 444a, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaFaculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaExperimental mito-nuclear introgression lines (MNILs) were established by backcrossing isofemale lines of <i>D. subobscura</i> originating from the same populations. MNILs were subjected to a series of life-history experiments designed to test the fitness of the bearers of different combinations of two main mtDNA haplotypes on their own nuclear background, as well as on the background of the opposite haplotype. By having 11 replicas of the four mito-nuclear combinations, we could test not only the adaptive significance of the differences between the two main haplotypes but also the influence of additional variation present within each of the 11 combinations on fitness. Testing the fitness of individuals of both sexes enabled us to examine if sex-specific selection has a role in maintaining the frequencies of the two mtDNA haplotypes in nature. Conducting the fitness assays on two different temperatures enabled us to test whether different temperatures favor specific mtDNA haplotypes or mito-nuclear genotypes and consequently promote stable sympatric mtDNA variation. The results show weak signature of genotype-by-environment interactions, and no sex-specific selection regarding differences between the two main haplotypes. However, individual models across different life-history components showed these two mechanisms at play in promoting mtDNA variability present in specific mito-nuclear crosses. Our models show that mito-nuclear interactions are, in fact, more important as units of selection.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/415mtDNAmito-nuclear interactionsgenetic diversitysex-specific selectiongenotype-environment interactionslife-history
spellingShingle Pavle Erić
Marija Savić Veselinović
Aleksandra Patenković
Marija Tanasković
Bojan Kenig
Katarina Erić
Boris Inđić
Stefan Stanovčić
Mihailo Jelić
Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>
Insects
mtDNA
mito-nuclear interactions
genetic diversity
sex-specific selection
genotype-environment interactions
life-history
title Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>
title_full Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>
title_fullStr Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>
title_short Mechanisms Maintaining Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms: The Role of Mito-Nuclear Interactions, Sex-Specific Selection, and Genotype-by-Environment Interactions in <i>Drosophila subobscura</i>
title_sort mechanisms maintaining mitochondrial dna polymorphisms the role of mito nuclear interactions sex specific selection and genotype by environment interactions in i drosophila subobscura i
topic mtDNA
mito-nuclear interactions
genetic diversity
sex-specific selection
genotype-environment interactions
life-history
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/4/415
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