Assessing the role of mitonuclear interactions on mitochondrial function and organismal fitness in natural Drosophila populations

Abstract

Mitochondrial metabolism is regulated by a series of enzyme complexes, whose function depends on effective interactions between proteins and RNA encoded by the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. These epistatic interactions are in turn highly sensitive to the environment. Many studies have found that mitochondrial haplotype frequencies of various taxa associate with latitude or altitude, leading to the hypothesis that mitochondrial genomes may respond to thermal selection and contribute to local adaptation. We used a Drosophila melanogaster panel comprising native (coadapted) populations from the extremes of the Australian east-coast cline, and generated mitonuclear cybrid populations. Our results indicate a strong phenotypic impact of mitonuclear interactions in cybrid lines, involving an apparent trade-off between aerobic capacity and key fitness aspects such as reproduction, growth, and survival. Overall, our study shows that naturally-occurring mitonuclear disruptions can have a meaningful impact on phenotypes, potentially influencing future ecological adaptation and population persistence.