Fig. 4

ΔmtDNA molecules are selectively eliminated during C. elegans development and defer between gonad and soma. A The percent of ΔmtDNA determined for a population of animals in generation 2 mutant, G2m, eggs (N = 5), unhatched eggs (N = 5), larvae (N = 3) and adults (N = 4) and generation 3 mutant, G3m eggs (N = 4). Data are means ±1 standard error of the mean (1SE). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey’s post hoc test, (*) denotes P < 0.05 and (**) denotes P < 0.001 compared with G2m unhatched eggs. B The percent of ΔmtDNA determined for a population of animals (n = 5) in generation 2 wild type, G2wt eggs (N = 3) and adults (N = 3), and generation 3 wild type, G3wt eggs (N = 4). Data are means ± 1 standard error of the mean (1SE). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA followed by a Tukey’s post hoc test compared with G2wt eggs. C The percent of ΔmtDNA determined in individual G2m adults that reached adulthood (N = 3 biological repeats) after 7–8 days (mild delay; n = 12) or 9–10 days (severe delay; n = 22). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney rank sum test (P < 0.005). D–G The relative levels of ΔmtDNA (D, F) or +mtDNA (E, G) were determined for the gonad and soma (normalized to soma) of a population of (D, E) G2m adults (N = 8) or (F, G) G2wt adults (N = 4). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney rank sum test, (*) denotes P < 0.05. Individual data values are presented in Additional file 2