Studies of mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA extracted from organelles harboring an intramitochondrial virus.

(1) Two viper cells lines were investigated, one which harbors IMV in the mitochondria (VSW cells) and one without detectable IMV (VH3 cells). (2) The size of closed circular mtDNA molecules from both VSW and VH3 cells was found to be significantly greater (5.4 to 5.6 micron) than the contour lengths of typical mammalian cells (4.8 to 5.2 micron). (3) A small percentage of mini-circles ranging in size from 0.1 to 0.6 micron was observed to band with closed circular mtDNA from both cell lines. Minicircles were especially abundant in VH3 cells. (4) MtDNA from VSW cells contained 34.1% dimers plus oligomers (10.2% oligomers), whereas VH3 cells had only 14.8% dimeric and oligomeric forms (5.4% oligomers). (5) Treatment of VSW cells with 1 microng/ml ethidium bromide for 48 hours resulted in an increased incidence of IMV (IMV in 15% of mitochondrial sections) as compared with untreated VSW cells (IMV in 3% of mitochondrial sections).