title: Human cells lacking mtDNA: repopulation with exogenous mitochondria by complementation.
abstract: Two human cell lines (termed rho 0), which had been completely depleted of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by long-term exposure to ethidium bromide, were found to be dependent on uridine and pyruvate for growth because of the absence of a functional respiratory chain. Loss of either of these two metabolic requirements was used as a selectable marker for the repopulation of rho 0 cells with exogenous mitochondria by complementation. Transformants obtained with various mitochondrial donors exhibited a respiratory phenotype that was in most cases distinct from that of the rho 0 parent or the donor, indicating that the genotypes of the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes as well as their specific interactions play a role in the respiratory competence of a cell.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Attardi
mesh_terms: D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial