Independent impacts of aging on mitochondrial DNA quantity and quality in humans

Background The accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, and the reduction of mtDNA copy number, both disrupt mitochondrial energetics, and may contribute to aging and age-associated phenotypes. However, there are few genetic and epidemiological studies on the spectra of blood mtDNA heteroplasmies, and the distribution of mtDNA copy numbers in different age groups and their impact on age-related phenotypes. In this work, we used whole-genome sequencing data of isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the UK10K project to investigate in parallel mtDNA heteroplasmy and copy number in 1511 women, between 17 and 85 years old, recruited in the TwinsUK cohorts. Results We report a high prevalence of pathogenic mtDNA heteroplasmies in this population. We also find an increase in mtDNA heteroplasmies with age (β = 0.011, P = 5.77e-6), and showed that, on average, individuals aged 70-years or older had 58.5% more mtDNA heteroplasmies than those under 40-years old. Conversely, mtDNA copy number decreased by an average of 0.4 copies per year (β = −0.395, P = 0.0097). Multiple regression analyses also showed that age had independent effects on mtDNA copy number decrease and heteroplasmy accumulation. Finally, mtDNA copy number was positively associated with serum bicarbonate level (P = 4.46e-5), and inversely correlated with white blood cell count (P = 0.0006). Moreover, the aggregated heteroplasmy load was associated with blood apolipoprotein B level (P = 1.33e-5), linking the accumulation of mtDNA mutations to age-related physiological markers. Conclusions Our population-based study indicates that both mtDNA quality and quantity are influenced by age. An open question for the future is whether interventions that would contribute to maintain optimal mtDNA copy number and prevent the expansion of heteroplasmy could promote healthy aging

The complete mitochondrial genome of Anthrenus museorum (Coleoptera: Bostrichiformia: Dermestidae) from China

Dermestid beetles (Coleoptera: Bostrichiformia: Dermestidae) are important pests of various storage products and pose a potential threat to international trade. In this study, the whole mitogenome of Anthrenus museorum was first sequenced and annotated and was found to have the same gene order observed in known dermestid beetles. It comprised 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs and a control region. The typical ATN start codon was observed in all PCGs, except for ND3 (TTG), and all 13 PCGs showed three types of stop codons (TAA, TAG, and T-). Phylogenetic analysis based on the PCGs indicated that the relationships within Bostrichiformia were reconstructed, with the exception of one early emerging species of Bostrichidae that actually makes the group polyphyletic, as (Dermestidae + (Bostrichidae + Anobiidae)). Moreover, it revealed a close relationship between A. museorum and A. verbasci using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analysis

A logging identification method of tight oil reservoir lithology and lithofacies: A case from Chang7 Member of Triassic Yanchang Formation in Heshui area, Ordos Basin, NW China

Abstract: Based on the observation results of cores, structural analysis, sedimentary microfacies analysis, lithologic analysis and other analytical tests and logging data, the characteristics of lithology and lithofacies of the Member Chang7 tight oil reservoir of the Triassic Yanchang Formation in Heshui area are described and summarized and the criteria for identification of lithology and lithofacies by logging are established. The lithofacies in the Chang7 tight oil reservoir were classified into five types: fine sandstone deposited by sandy debris flow, turbidite fine siltstone, fine sandstone deposited by slump, semi-deep to deep lacustrine mudstone, and oil shale. The lithology and lithofacies in the Chang7 tight oil reservoir were characterized, both qualitatively and quantitatively, with electric logging and imaging logging and several means and methods, the response characteristics of different lithology and lithofacies were summarized through analyzing the image log and conventional log data, and the parameters characterizing sandstone's structures were used to quantitatively characterize the lithology and lithofacies, the criteria for identification of different lithology and lithofacies by logging were established. The vertical and horizontal identification and classification of lithology and lithofacies in a single well was then accomplished by processing the log data from each well, the results of lithology and lithofacies identification tally well with the results of formation testing. In-depth lithology and lithofacies analysis proves to be an important method of tight oil reservoir evaluation and “sweet spot” prediction. Key words: tight oil, lithology and lithofacies, logging identification, Ordos Basin, Heshui area, Chang7 Membe

A Germline‐Specific Regulator of Mitochondrial Fusion is Required for Maintenance and Differentiation of Germline Stem and Progenitor Cells

Abstract Maintenance and differentiation of germline stem and progenitor cells (GSPCs) is important for sexual reproduction. Here, the authors identify zebrafish pld6 as a novel germline‐specific gene by cross‐analyzing different RNA sequencing results, and find that pld6 knockout mutants develop exclusively into infertile males. In pld6 mutants, GSPCs fail to differentiate and undergo apoptosis, leading to masculinization and infertility. Mitochondrial fusion in pld6‐depleted GSPCs is severely impaired, and the mutants exhibit defects in piRNA biogenesis and transposon suppression. Overall, this work uncovers zebrafish Pld6 as a novel germline‐specific regulator of mitochondrial fusion, and highlights its essential role in the maintenance and differentiation of GSPCs as well as gonadal development and gametogenesis

Portable and Feasible Device to Evaluate the Technique of Swimming Practitioners

Based on people’s enthusiasm for swimming and their pursuit of swimming skill at a higher level, this paper proposes a non-contact motion guidance system based on optical motion capture technology, which aims to improve their swimming technique conveniently, scientifically and quickly. The swimming actions can be captured using one smartphone underwater, and the app on the phone will process the video and give suggestions based on the reference postures derived from statistics of professional swimmers for improvement of the swimming performance. In this system, the Canny operator was applied to detect the edge of the image captured from the swimming video, and the Hough line was implemented to recognize and locate the key position information which refers to the angle between knee and hip joints, and the angle between the trunk and horizontal plane. Furthermore, by comparing the key position information with the data of standard swimming, improvement measures can be given to improve the swimming skills of swimmers. As the result of the experiments, the system can accurately capture the swimmer’s movement state, locate the incorrect posture of the swimmer, and provide the corrective information in real-time. Although the paper only took breaststroke as an example, the proposed method can be extended to the other swimming styles

Additional file 3: Table S5. of Independent impacts of aging on mitochondrial DNA quantity and quality in humans

Associations between mtDNA copy number and 32 phenotypic traits. (XLSX 11 kb

Additional file 2: Table S1. of Independent impacts of aging on mitochondrial DNA quantity and quality in humans

Heteroplasmy information. (CSV 49 kb