Summary
The induction of the cytoplasmic “petite” mutation by ultraviolet light in 21 UV-sensitive (rad) nuclear mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was compared to that in the wild type. Six rad mutants showed an increased sensitivity and two were less sensitive than the wild type. Modifications in the dose-response paralleled that of UV-induced reversion in one nuclear locus (hi 1) studied. In these eight mutants the repair of UV-induced mitochondrial lesions seems to be under nuclear control.
A block in the repair steps controlled by eleven of the other rad genes studied did not interfere with the repair of mitochondrial damage. In strains carrying a mutation in any one of these genes the dose-response curve for “petite” induction could be superimposed on that of the wild type even though they differed from the wild type in respect of nuclear gene reversion. These steps of the mitochondrial repair pathway(s) are therefore likely to be controlled by a nuclear and/or a cytoplasmic genetic determinant whose product acts specifically on mitochondrial lesions or it may be that the products of these genes are not required in the process of induction of “petites”.
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Communicated by F. Kaudewitz
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Moustacchi, E. Evidence for nucleus independent steps in control of repair of mitochondrial damage. Molec. Gen. Genet. 114, 50–58 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268746
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00268746