Establishment of a new method for precisely determining the functions of individual mitochondrial genes, using Dictyostelium cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Disruption of mitochondrial genes may become a powerful tool for elucidating precisely the functions of individual mitochondrial genes. However, it is generally difficult to manipulate genetically mitochondrial genes, because 1) a mitochondrion is surrounded by inner and outer membranes, and 2) there are a large number of mtDNA copies in a single cell. This is the reason why we tried to establish a novel method for disrupting a certain mitochondrial gene (rps4), using Dictyostelium cells.

Results

Here, we have developed a new method for specifically disrupting a mitochondrial gene (rps4 ; ribosomal protein subunit S4), by a combination of homologous recombination and delivery of an appropriate restriction endonuclease (SfoI) into mitochondria. First, mitochondrial

SUBMITTER: Chida J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2330148 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature