A stable mitochondrial DNA in Tetrahymena pyriformis

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Abstract
Autoradiographs of Tetrahymena cells labeled with 3H‐thymidine for long periods of time indicate incorporation into acid‐insoluble, DNase sensitive material in the cytoplasm. Results of electron microscope autoradiography show that 73% of the cytoplasmic silver grains occurred over mitochondria profiles, 92% of the grains were located over or within 0.5 μ of mitochondria while 97% of the silver grains were over or within 1.0 μ of mitochondria.Tests to determine loss or gain of radioactivity during cell growth and division show that approximately one‐half of the label in each cell is transmitted to each daughter cell during division.The results demonstrate that mitochondria of Tetrahymena pyriformis contain a stable DNA‐like material.