title: Transcription and translation of mitochondrial DNA in interspecific somatic cell hybrids.
abstract: We examined the mitochondrial transcription and translation products of somatic cell hybrids constructed by the fusion of Chinese hamster and mouse cells. The hybrid cell lines OAC-k, OAC-l, and OAC-m contain approximately equal amounts of hamster and mouse mitochondrial DNA and produced mitochondrial rRNA from both parental species in the same ratio. Cell lines OAC-k, OAC-l, and OAC-m also produced poly(A)+ mouse mitochondrial RNA transcripts comparable in complexity and quantity to poly(A)+ RNA from the mouse parent. However, the overall level of poly(A)+ hamster mitochondrial RNA from these hybrids was significantly reduced compared with that from the hamster parent. The hybrid cells also lacked several poly(A)+ RNA species found in the hamster parent, but contained additional minor transcripts. The mitochondrially coded proteins of the OAC-k, OAC-l, and OAC-m cells were predominantly encoded by the mouse mitochondrial DNA.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal