Figure 2. Mitochondrial Genome Knock-In (ρ0) and Mitochondrial Genome Knock-Out (Cybrid) Models.

In general, cells of human origin are respiratory-competent with mitochondria that harbor the mitochondrial genome. Viable cells (ρ0) can be generated with the depletion of the mitochondrial genome. As a control, the mitochondrial genome content can be reconstituted to ρ0 cells with the fusion of ρ0 to cytoplast that act as membrane bound donors of mitochondria, and, thus, the mitochondrial genome.