Open AccessUnique DNA associated with mitochondria in the “S”-type cytoplasm of male-sterile maize
Author(s) -
D. R. Pring,
Charles S. Levings,
W. W. L. Hu,
D. H. Timothy
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.74.7.2904
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , biology , cytoplasmic male sterility , dna , mitochondrial dna , agarose gel electrophoresis , mitochondrion , microbiology and biotechnology , agarose , gel electrophoresis , genetics , gene
Mitochondrial DNAs were prepared from maize lines with normal cytoplasm and with the T, C, S, and EP sources of male-sterile cytoplasms. Agarose gel electrophoresis of these preparations revealed a main high-molecular-weight DNA band. In addition, the S cytoplasm was characterized by the presence of two faster migrating DNAs of molecular weight 3.42 to 3.48 × 106 and 4.01 to 4.10 × 106 . Electron microscopy showed these unique DNAs to be of different length, but their molecular configuration was not clearly established. It is possible that these unique DNAs represent physical evidence of an episomal system previously postulated to function in the S male-sterile cytoplasm.