Elucidating genomic patterns and recombination events in plant cybrid mitochondria.

Cybrid plant mitochondria undergo homologous recombination, mainly BIR, keep a single allele for each gene, and maintain exclusive sequences of each parent and a single copy of the homologous regions. The maintenance of a dynamic equilibrium between the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes requires continuous communication and a high level of compatibility between them, so that alterations in one genetic compartment need adjustments in the other. The co-evolution of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes has been poorly studied, even though the consequences and effects of this interaction are highly relevant for human health, as well as for crop improvement programs and for genetic engineering.

ATLAS: An advanced PCR-method for routine visualization of telomere length in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Measuring telomere length is essential in telomere biology. Southern blot hybridization is the predominant method for measuring telomere length in the genetic model Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have further developed and refined a telomere PCR approach, which was rarely used previously (mainly in specific telomeric projects), into a robust method allowing direct visualisation of telomere length differences in routine experiments with S.

Deficiencies in mitochondrial DNA compromise the survival of yeast cells at critically high temperatures.

To address possible roles of mitochondrial genes in adaptation of eukaryotic cells to critical temperatures, we compared thermotolerance of mitochondrial rho mutants and wild type cells of six rho positive yeast species: Candida glabrata, Saccharomyces bayanus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces eubayanus, Saccharomyces paradoxus and Saccharomyces pastorianus. All rho mutants manifested compromised thermotolerance as a common phenotype. Analysis of viabilities at critical temperatures (32-45 °C) showed the reduction of maximum permissive temperatures (MPTs) in all rho mutants in comparison to their wild type counterparts.

Co-operative inhibitory effects of hydrogen peroxide and iodine against bacterial and yeast species.

Background: Hydrogen peroxide and iodine are powerful antimicrobials widely used as antiseptics and disinfectants. Their antimicrobial properties are known to be enhanced by combining them with other compounds. We studied co-operative inhibitory activities (synergism, additive effects and modes of growth inhibition) of hydrogen peroxide and iodine used concurrently against 3 bacterial and 16 yeast species.

New CMS-associated phenotypes in cybrids Nicotiana tabacum L. (+Hyoscyamus niger L.).

Morphological characteristics were studied in cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) cybrids possessing the tobacco nuclear genome, Hyoscyamus niger plastome and recombinant mitochondria. After backcrosses with tobacco, new flower modifications were found, including: conversions of stamens into branched filamentous structures; alterations in the shape of petals and the corolla limb; and high degrees of reduction in most flower organs. Vegetative alterations (leaf elongation and stem branching) occurred in some cybrids.