Headpiece-stalk particles lining membranes of mitochondria isolated from normal and oligomycin-resistant mutants ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

Mitochondria isolated from the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae were negatively stained with ammonium molybdate. Extensive headpiece-stalk projections were observed lining the disrupted mitochondrial membranes. These observations represent the first clear demonstration of headpiecestalk particles on yeast mitochondrial membranes. Phosphotungstic acid was somewhat less satisfactory than ammonium molybdate in the visualization of the headpiece-stalk particles. Mitochondria isolated from glucose-repressed cells and oligomycin-resistant mutant cells were also examined by negative staining and found to show numerous headpiecestalk elements. Gross differences in the morphology of mitochondria from normal, glucose-repressed and oligomycin-resistant cells, as examined by negative staining, were not apparent in the present studies. The nature and expression of the oligomycin mutation is discussed in terms of possible changes in membrane protein and phospholipid.