The Vacuole Binding to Mitochondria by VIG1 Contributes an Equal Inheritance of the Vacuoles in Cyanidioschyzon merolae

Abstract

Vacuoles function in endocytosis, storage and digestion of metabolites in eukaryotic cells. They are inherited by the daughter cells. However, the mechanisms of vacuole inheritance are poorly understood because the cells contain multiple vacuoles that behave randomly. Cyanidioschyzon merolae cell has a minimum set of organelles. The vacuoles were equally inherited by the daughter cells by binding to dividing mitochondria. The binding was mediated by VIG1. However, the role of the binding in the vacuoles inheritance was poorly understood. We examined it by inhibiting the binding cytochemically. The vacuoles, which were not bound to mitochondria, were not equally inherited by the daughter cells. As the results, vacuole-less daughter cells were generated. These results suggested that the binding contributed the equal inheritance of vacuoles and ensured the permanence of vacuoles in daughter cells.