Synthesis of mitochondrial RNA in hamster-mouse hybrid cells.

Abstract

IN human-mouse hybrid cells only mouse cytoplasmic ribosomal RNA (cyt-rRNA)1,2 and mitochondrial DNA3,4 has been found. In hamster-mouse hybrids both parental species of cyt-rRNA5,6 and ribosomal proteins7 are synthesized. I have studied the synthesis of mitochondrial ribosomal RNAs (mit-rRNAs) in hybrid cells together with some 4S RNA species, the major homodisperse, well-established products of the mammalian mitochondrial genome8. The series of hamster-mouse mononucleate hybrid clones studied here, derived from Syrian hamster kidney cells (T6a) and mouse fibroblasts (3T3-4E), has already been described9. Montenecourt et al.10 have shown that both the heavy and light species of mit-rRNA of hamster cells can be separated from their mouse counterparts by Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.