Nuclear inheritance of a gene affecting mitochondrial gene expression
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-1996
Abstract
Due to a deficiency in mitochondrial protein synthesis, Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell mutant Gal+ 32 does not grow in galactose or fructose. This report examines the nuclear or cytoplasmic inheritance of this single, recessive mutation. In a control experiment, fusion of Gal+TG(S)TK+ cells with Gal+ 32TG(R)TK+ cells resulted in tetraploid hybrids (as verified by karyotyping) that were selected in hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine medium. The majority (2/3) of the control hybrids grew in galactose as expected since Gal+ is dominant over Gal+. Fusion of Rhodamine 6-G treated Gal+TG(S)TK+ cells with Gal+ 32TG(R)TK+ cells resulted in Rhodamine 6-G-tetraploid hybrids that were selected in hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine medium. The majority (7/12) of the Rodamine 6-G-hybrids grew in galactose as expected for a nuclearly encoded gene considering that Rhodamine 6-G interferes with transmission of mtDNA but not nuclear DNA. Therefore, these results are compelling in their demonstration of the nuclear origin of the Gal+ 32 mutation.
Recommended Citation
Sherif, Zaki A.; Jefferson, Linda M.; and Whitfield-Broome, Carolyn D., "Nuclear inheritance of a gene affecting mitochondrial gene expression" (1996). Howard University Cancer Center Faculty Publications. 193.
https://dh.howard.edu/hucancer_fac/193
