Rescue of a paralyzed-flagella mutant of Chlamydomonas by transformation.
The biflagellate alga Chlamydomonas has been used extensively in the genetic and biochemical analysis of flagellar assembly and motility. We have restored motility to a paralyzed-flagella mutant of Chlamydomonas by transforming with the corresponding wild-type gene. A nitrate reductase-deficient paralyzed-flagella strain, nit1-305 pf-14, carrying mutations in the genes for nitrate reductase and radial spoke protein 3, was transformed with wild-type copies of both genes. Two-thirds of the cells that survived nitrate selection also regained motility, indicating that they had been transformed with both the nitrate reductase and radial spoke protein 3 genes. Transformants typically contained multiple copies of both genes, genetically linked to each other, but not linked to the original mutant loci. Complementation of paralyzed-flagella mutants by transformation is a powerful tool for investigating flagellar assembly and function.
Diener
D R
DR
Department of Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511.
Curry
A M
AM
Johnson
K A
KA
Williams
B D
BD
Lefebvre
P A
PA
Kindle
K L
KL
Rosenbaum
J L
JL
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002465:Cell Movement; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005407:Flagella / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010957:Plasmids; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D010940:Plant Proteins; D004247:DNA