Repair of mitochondrial DNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Induction of cytoplasmic petite mutants in a nuclear mutant exhibiting thermosensitive mitochondrial deoxyribonuclease activity.

Four nuclear thermosensitive mutants have been obtained in which induction of up 100% cytoplasmic petite mutants (rho-) is observed upon cell incubation at 36 degrees C. For a given incubation time at 36 degrees C, the percentage of rho- is increased by preliminary gamma-ray irradiation. Under these conditions, the induction of rho- is a linear function of the irradiation dose. The retention of genetic information by rho- and of mitochondrial DNA synthesis in vivo and in vitro exclude that the mutants are deficient in the replication of mitochondrial DNA. The degradation of mitochondrial DNA labeled with [3H]dTTP in isolated mitochondria, has been monitored at 26 degrees C and at 36 degrees C after addition of 0.5% Triton X-100 in the presence or in the absence of ethidium bromide. In assays carried out at 26 degrees C, the degradation of mitochondrial DNA is similar in the parental strain and in the mutant gamma s rho 2. However, at 36 degrees C, the degradation of mitochondrial DNA is slower in the mutant. We have shown that a mitochondrial membrane deoxyribonuclease acting on double-stranded DNA at acid pH is thermosensitive in the mutant. Analysis of the meiotic segregants of a tetrad issued from the cross of the mutant with an isogenic parental strain shows co-segregation of rho- induction and of nuclease thermosensitivity in a 2:2 Mendelian pattern. These results suggest that a mitochondrial deoxyribonuclease is involved in the repair of damages caused to mitochondrial DNA by elevated temperature and by x-rays.