Untersuchungen über Reversions-und Segregationsverhalten eines außerkaryotischen Gens von Chlamydomonas reinhardii zur Bestimmung des Erbträgers

Evidence for persistence of chloroplast markers in the heteroplasmic state in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, reciprocal crosses between strains carrying non-allelic chloroplast mutations to streptomycin dependence (sd-u) produce streptomycin sensitive (sd-u (+)) recombinant progeny. Transfer of these sd-u (+)progeny to streptomycin-containing medium results in a much higher frequency of recovery of streptomycin dependent isolates than expected by mutation. Failure to recover the more commonly encountered class of streptomycin resistant mutants also suggests that mutation is not responsible for appearance of the new dependent isolates. Backcrosses of these new sd-u isolates to strains carrying the original sd-u mutations demonstrate their allelism with the sd-u mutation contributed by the mt (+)parent. Earlier work by Schimmer and Arnold (1969, 1970a-d) indicated that newly isolated sensitive revertants of the streptomycin dependent mutant sd-u-3-18 also yielded high frequencies of sd-u cells but these were never analyzed genetically. We have now obtained new sd-u. isolates from streptomycin sensitive revertants of sd-u-318 and shown them all to be allelic with the original sd-u3-18 mutation. Thus "hidden" sd-u alleles can coexist with sd-u (+)alleles in heteroplasmic cells. These heteroplasmic cells are streptomycin sensitive in phenotype and may arise in crosses or from new mutation.

Chloroplast gene suppression of defective ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in Chlamydomonas reinhardii: evidence for stable heteroplasmic genes

The rcl-u-1-18-5B chloroplast mutation results in the absence of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) holoenzyme in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii. The 18-5B mutant strain lacks photosynthesis and displays alight-sensitive, acetate-requiring phenotype. In the present investigations, revertants of 18-5B were recovered that regained photosynthetic competence. These revertants have decreased levels of Rubisco holoenzyme relative to wild type and display heteroplasmicity, segregating wild-type (revertant) and acetate-requiring phenotypes during vegetative growth or through meiosis. One of these revertants, R10-I, was studied further. The heteroplasmicity associated with photoautotrophically-grown R10-I was found to be stable through subcloning and heritable through several crosses. During growth in acetate medium in the dark, where photosynthesis provides no selective advantage, the wild-type phenotype was lost. Acetate-requiring segregants became homoplasmic but wild-type segregants did not. Organellar intergenic-suppression is discussed in light of the observed stable heteroplasmicity.

Chloroplast genes in Chlamydomonas affecting organelle ribosomes. Genetic and biochemical analysis of analysis of antibiotic-resistant mutants at several gene loci

Six chloroplast gene mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii resistant to spectinomycin, erythromycin, or streptomycin have been assessed for antibiotic resistance of their chloroplast ribosomes. Four of these mutations clearly confer high levels of antibiotic resistance on the chloroplast ribosomes both in vivo. Although one mutant resistant to streptomycin and one resistant to spectinomycin have chloroplast ribosomes as sensitive to antibiotics as those of wild type in vivo, these mutations can be shown to alter the wildtype sensitivity of chloroplast ribosomes in polynucleotide-directed amino acid incorporation in vitro. Genetic analysis of these six chloroplast mutants and three similar mutants (Sager, 1972), two of which have been shown to affect chloroplast ribosomes (Mets and Bogorad, 1972; Schlanger and Sager, 1974), indicates that in Chlamydomonas at least three chloroplast gene loci can affect streptomycin resistance of chloroplast ribosomes and that two can affect erythromycin resistance. The three spectinomycin-resistant mutants examined appear to be alleles at a single chloroplast gene locus, but may represent mutations at two different sites within the same gene. Unlike wild type, the streptomycin and spectinomycin resistant mutants which have chloroplast ribosomes sensitive to antibiotics in vivo, grow well in the presence of antibiotic by respiring exogenously supplied acetate as a carbon source, and have normal levels of cytochrome oxidase activity and cyanide-sensitive respiration. We conclude that mitochondrial protein synthesis in these mutants is resistant to these antibiotics, whereas in wild type it is sensitive. To explain the behavior of these two chloroplast gene mutants as well as other one-step mutants which are resistant both photosynthetically and when respiring acetate in the dark, we have postulated that a mutation in a single chloroplast gene may result in alteration of both chloroplast and mitochondrial ribosomes. Mitochondrial resistance would appear to be the minimal necessary condition for survival of all such mutants, and antibiotic-resistant chloroplast ribosomes would be necessary for survival only under photosynthetic conditions.