Open AccessBiogenesis of Mitochondrial Membranes in Neurospora crassa during Cellular Differentiation: Changes in Oxidative Phosphorylation and Synthesis of Mitochondrial Phospholipids
Author(s) -
David P. Beck,
John W. Greenawalt
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
journal of general microbiology/journal of general microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2059-9323
pISSN - 0022-1287
DOI - 10.1099/00221287-92-1-111
Subject(s) - neurospora crassa , oxidative phosphorylation , mitochondrion , biology , neurospora , mitochondrial biogenesis , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , phosphorylation , inner mitochondrial membrane , gene , mutant
Changes in the capacity of mitochondria to carry out oxidative phosphorylation and in the rate of synthesis and incorporation of phospholipids into mitochondria were measured during the germination of conidiospores of Neurospora crassa. The competence of isolated mitochondria to carry out coupled respiration was very low during the first 3 h growth, but it increased rapidly, reaching maximal levels at 5 to 6 h growth. Changes in mitochondrial function were the same in cells grown in 2% sucrose- or 15% glucose-supplemented medium. The rate of synthesis of mitochondrial phospholipids was very low during the first 2 h growth and increased to maximal levels between 3 and 5 h. The rate of synthesis of mitochondrial phospholipids was approximately three times higher in cells grown in 15% glucose than in those grown in 2% sucrose. The maximal rate of synthesis of mitochondrial phospholipids occurred during spore germination and preceded attainment of full competence for oxidative phosphorylation. The lipid-rich condition of the mitochondrial resulting from the high rate of synthesis of phospholipids in glucose-grown cells is postulated to be related to the whorled inclusions observed in thin sections of Neurospora cells.