Objective
Collaborations achieved during this contract have been very productive notably in the knowledge of the molecular genetics of Chlamydomonas chloroplasts and mitochondria. Projects realized in this area have allowed the study of very complex problems concerning the interactions which may exist between plant cell organelles. Studies may help to deepen the understanding of how genetic control exercised by one cellular component may operate on another.
Using various chloroplastic mutations to study the interactions between mitochondria and chloroplasts, a chloroplastic influence on mitochondrial function has been indicated. Although the study of chloroplast genetics has been established over a number of years with various elements of the genome now having been sequenced, mitochondrial genetics is much less well understood. This has been due to an increased difficulty in inducing mitochondrial mutation. Using manganese cations we have augmented the proportion and frequency of such mutations which may then be characterized. Such methods may be used to introduced genetic markers to further increase the development of Chlamydomonas mitochondrial genetics. We have used mutations to study spectra of cytochromal mitochondria, where we have established precise spectra of cytochromes b, c and c1 as well as cytochrome oxidase. The detection of photosynthetic mutants has provided a method to aid characterization of the complex membrane systems involved in the photosynthetic process.
The project deals with a new biological phenomenon, the trans splicing of several precursor mRNAs of a single eukaryotic gene from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii. It would be of great advantage if the two laboratories continue their collaboration in this project. In Germany, mostly molecular aspects of this projects will be treated, while in France the genetic aspects are the most important ones. Therefore it can be expected that this collaboration will be very efficient because complement genetic methods and techniques are used in the two different laboratories.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
44721 Bochum
Germany