Germ-line mitochondria exhibit suppressed respiratory activity to support their accurate transmission to the next generation

► Inherited mitochondria are named germ-line mitochondria (gl-M). ► The amount of ATP synthase was low at the protein level in gl-M. ► Cytochrome c oxidase activity of gl-M was also at a low level. ► Respiratory activity (RA) was at a low level during most gametogenetic period. ► The gl-M enable their accurate transmission to the next generation by the low RA.