Mitochondrial mutations affecting resistance to erythromycin and mikamycin in Paramecium aurelia: provisional results with a new method

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Abstract
A new method for obtaining mitochondrial mutants of Paramecium aurelia is described. Sensitive organisms were first placed in medium containing a low concentration (0·02 mg/ml) of erythromycin (ERY), insufficient to prevent fission. The paramecia were then transferred through a graded series of increasing ERY concentrations, with a period of growth at each concentration. A high yield of ERY-resistant mutants was obtained.Continuous growth in 0·02 mg/ml ERY also resulted in the accumulation of a spectrum of mutants resistant to various concentrations of ERY. Many of these mutants are also resistant to mikamycin. On returning the resistant paramecia to media lacking ERY, some clones remained resistant whilst others reverted to sensitivity.