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+TGsTK− cells with Gal−32TGRTK+ 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+TGSTK− cells with Gal−32TGRTK+ cells resulted in Rhodamine 6-G-tetraploid hybrids that were selected in hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine medium. The majority (7/12) of the Rhodamine 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.
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Sherif, Z.A., Jefferson, L.M. & Whitfield-Broome, C.D. Nuclear inheritance of a gene affecting mitochondrial gene expression. Somat Cell Mol Genet 22, 443–451 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02369436
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02369436