RNA editing is absent in a single mitochondrial gene of Didymium iridis.

An open reading frame (ORF) was found in the mitochondrial genome of the Pan2-16 strain of Didymium iridis that showed high similarity to the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 3 (nad3) gene in other organisms. So far all other typical mitochondrial genes identified in this organism require RNA editing to generate ORFs capable of directing protein synthesis. The D.

RNA editing in six mitochondrial ribosomal protein genes of Didymium iridis.

Similarity searches with Didymium iridis mitochondrial genomic DNA identified six possible ribosomal protein-coding regions, however, each region contained stop codons that would need to be removed by RNA editing to produce functional transcripts. RT-PCR was used to amplify these regions from total RNA for cloning and sequencing. Six functional transcripts were verified for the following ribosomal protein genes: rpS12, rpS7, rpL2, rpS19, rpS3, and rpL16.

RNA editing of 10 Didymium iridis mitochondrial genes and comparison with the homologous genes in Physarum polycephalum.

Regions of the Didymium iridis mitochondrial genome were identified with similarity to typical mitochondrial genes; however, these regions contained numerous stop codons. We used RT-PCR and DNA sequencing to determine whether, through RNA editing, these regions were transcribed into mRNAs that could encode functional proteins. Ten putative gene regions were examined: atp1, atp6, atp8, atp9, cox1, cox2, cytb, nad4L, nad6, and nad7.

Mitochondrial inheritance patterns in Didymium iridis are not influenced by stage of mating competency.

To test whether the timing of transition to mating competency affected mitochondrial transmission patterns in D. iridis. Reciprocal crosses were made by combining mating compatible strains that differed in their competency to mate.

Patterns of mitochondrial inheritance in the myxogastrid Didymium iridis.

Seven strains of the Central American A1 mating series of Didymium iridis were crossed in all possible combinations. Individual plasmodia were isolated and grown to a stage where total DNA could be isolated for DNA-DNA hybridization with cloned mitochondrial DNA probes to determine the pattern of mitochondrial inheritance. Random, biased, and dominant patterns of uniparental mitochondrial inheritance were observed, as well as rare cases of biparental inheritance, depending on the particular parental strains mated.