Mutations affecting the mitochondrial genes encoding the cytochrome oxidase subunit I and apocytochrome b of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Mitochondrial mutants of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that are inactivated in the cytochrome pathway of respiration have previously been isolated. Despite the fact that the alternative oxidase pathway is still active the mutants have lost the capacity to grow heterotrophically (dark + acetate) and display reduced growth under mixotrophic conditions (light + acetate). In crosses between wild-type and mutant cells, the meiotic progeny only inherit the character transmitted by the mt- parent, which indicates that the mutations are located in the 15.

Further characterization of the respiratory deficient dum-1 mutation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and its use as a recipient for mitochondrial transformation.

The respiratory deficient dum-1 mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii fails to grow in the dark because of a terminal 1.5 kb deletion in the linear 15.8 kb mitochondrial genome, which affects the apocytochrome b (CYB) gene.

Biochemical, genetic and molecular characterization of new respiratory-deficient mutants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Eight respiratory-deficient mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been isolated after mutagenic treatment with acriflavine or ethidium bromide. They are characterized by their inability to grow or their very reduced growth under heterotrophic conditions. One mutation (Class III) is of nuclear origin whereas the seven remaining mutants (Classes I and II) display a predominantly paternal mt- inheritance, typical of mutations residing in the mitochondrial DNA.