title: Size distributions of circular molecules in plant mitochondrial DNAs.
abstract: Some physicochemical properties of the mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNA) from plants of flax, broad bean and mung bean, and from tissue culture cells of jimson weed, soybean, petunia and tobacco were determined. Circular molecules were observed in electron microscope preparations of each mtDNA. In soybean, petunia, broad bean and mung bean mtDNAs, the circular molecules had a continuous distribution of lengths (ranges between 1 to 36 kb, and 1 to 126 kb), heavily skewed toward smaller molecules. Eighty-six percent of the flax circular molecules were from 27 to 54 kb in size, and 78% of the jimson weed circular molecules were from 4 to 15 kb. Replicative forms of 1.2-1.6 kb circular molecules were observed in electron microscope preparations of broad bean mtDNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bailey-Serres
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wahleithner
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wolstenholme
mesh_terms: D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000235:genetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D013025:Glycine max / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004270:DNA, Circular; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes