Cytoplasmic Genes and Organelles

Cytoplasmic Genes and Organelles is about cytoplasmic genes: what they are and what they do. It applies the concepts and methods of cytoplasmic genetics to the problems of cell and molecular biology to which they can uniquely contribute. It shows geneticists the many attractive problems in this area awaiting their attention; cell biologists and biochemists the usefulness of cytoplasmic genetic analysis in their endeavors; and students the potential power of an integrated experimental approach using cytoplasmic genes together with the more conventional tools of biochemistry and electron microscopy in the investigation of organelle biogenesis.
The book treats the following aspects of cytoplasmic genetic systems: (1) the properties of cytoplasmic DNA; (2) the genetic analysis of cytoplasmic systems; and (3) the functions of cytoplasmic genes in organelle biogenesis. The opening chapter summarizes the principal findings to provide readers with a bird's eye view of the subject. Subsequent chapters cover topics such as cytoplastmic DNAs; cytoplasmic genes in Chlamydomonas; mitochondrial genetics of yeast; cytoplasmic genes in higher plants; the role of mitochondrial genes in mitochondrial biogenesis; and cytoplasmic genes and cell heredity.

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. What are Cytoplasmic Genes

Cytoplasmic DNA's

Formal Genetics of Cytoplasmic Systems

2. Cytoplasmic DNA's

Identification of Organelle DNA's

Organelle DNA's of Plant Cells

Identification of Mitochondrial DNA's

The Uniqueness of Organelle DNA

Size and Circularity of Organelle DNA

Genomic Size of Organelle DNA's

Heritable Alteration in Yeast Mitochondrial DNA

Replication and Repair of Organelle DNA's

Control of Replication of Organelle DNA's

Loss of Organelle DNA

Concluding Remarks

Suggested Review Articles

References

Genetic Analysis of Cytoplasmic Systems

3. Cytoplasmic Genes in Chlamydomonas

Introduction

Some Properties of Chlamydomonas

Transmission of Cytoplasmic Genes in Chlamydomonas: A Summary

Genetic Analysis of Cytoplasmic Genes in Chlamydomonas

Persistent Heterozygotes

Concluding Remarks

Suggested Review Articles

References

4. Mitochondrial Genetics of Yeast

Sexual Life of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Early Hints of Mitochondrial Heredity

Cytoplasmic Petites

Induction of Cytoplasmic Petites by Other Methods

Suppressive Petites

Studies of Suppressiveness at the Cellular Level

Recent Developments in Mitochondrial Genetics of Yeast

Concluding Remarks

Suggested Review Articles

References

5. Cytoplasmic Genes in Neurospora and Other Fungi

Genetic Analysis of Poky and Related Strains of Neurospora

Biochemical Studies of Poky

Studies of Cytoplasmic Mutants by Microinjection

Studies of Cytoplasmic Heredity in Podospora

Studies of Cytoplasmic Heredity in Aspergillus

Concluding Remarks

Suggested Review Articles

References

6. Cytoplasmic Genes in Higher Plants

Chloroplast Variegation and Pollen Sterility in Zea mays

Inheritance of Pollen Sterility

Biparental Inheritance in Pelargonium

Cytological Identification of "Mixed" Cells

Epilobium and the Plasmone Hypothesis

Plastid Autonomy in Oenothera

The Role of Plastid Genes in Evolution in the Genus Oenothera

Concluding Remarks

Suggested Review Articles

References

Patterns of Transmission of Cytoplasmic Genes: A Summary

Mutagenesis

Phenotypes

Identification

Preferential Transmission

Cytoplasmic Genes and Organelle Biogenesis

Introductory Remarks

7. The Role of Mitochondrial Genes in Mitochondrial Biogenesis

Structural Organization

Mitochondrial RNA's and Ribosomes

Origin of Mitochondrial Proteins

Summary

Suggested Review Articles

References

8 . The Role of Cytoplasmic Genes in the Biogenesis of Chloroplasts

Molecular Composition and Structure of Chloroplasts

Chemical Composition of the Chloroplast

Chloroplast Ribosomes and RNA's

Origin of Chloroplast Proteins

Concluding Remarks

Suggested Review Articles

References

Concluding Remarks

9. Cytoplasmic Genes and Cell Heredity

Some Postulated Advantages to Cells of Cytoplasmic Genomes

Aspects of Cell Heredity Not Previously Considered

Some Recent Applications of Cytoplasmic Genetics

Concluding Remarks

References

Appendix

Cesium Chloride Density Gradient Centrifugation

Density Transfer Method to Examine the Molecular Pattern of DNA Replication

Nearest-Neighbor Frequency Analysis

Kinetics of Renaturation of DNA

References

Glossary

Subject Index