A Mitochondrial Mutant of Coprinus lagopus

Abstract

SUMMARY: A mutation in Coprinus lagopus, designated acu-10, led to inability to use acetate as sole carbon source for growth. Using both somatic segregation and non-Mendelian segregation at meiosis as criteria, the mutation was shown to be inherited cytoplasmically. The mutant has a cytochrome spectrum in which the α peak for cytochrome a is absent and a new peak is present when compared to wild-type, corresponding to cytochrome a 1. Using the acu-10 mutation as a cytoplasmic marker, it has been possible to demonstrate that the migration of nuclei which occurs during dikaryotization takes place independently of any general movement of organelles. It is unlikely, therefore, that nuclear migration is brought about by cytoplasmic streaming.