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Mitochondrial transformation of mammalian cells

Nature volume 295, pages 605–607 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

Resistance to the antibiotics chloramphenicol (CAPr) and efrapeptin (EFr) in mammalian cells is cytoplasmically inherited1,2. We demonstrate here that purified mitochondria obtained from CAPr and EFr cells are taken up by endocytosis and transfer antibiotic resistance to chloramphenicol-(CAPs) and efrapeptin-(EFs) sensitive cells. The resultant cells, termed mitochondrial transformants, are stably resistant to the antibiotics and are produced with high efficiency. The ability to transfer antibiotic resistance using mitochondria supports the notion that CAPr is due to a mutation of the mitochondrial DNA3. This technique of mitochondrial-mediated transfer of antibiotic resistance may provide a novel means for studying mitochondrial genetics in mammalian cells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, 75235, USA

    Mike A. Clark & Jerry W. Shay

Authors
  1. Mike A. Clark
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  2. Jerry W. Shay
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Clark, M., Shay, J. Mitochondrial transformation of mammalian cells. Nature 295, 605–607 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/295605a0

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