Further evidence for lack of gene expression in the Tetrahymena micronucleus

Certain galA mutations in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila confer an almost total loss of galactokinase activity in homozygotes. Heterokaryons have been constructed that are homogeneous for the galA1 mutation in the (45n) macronucleus, but which contain a galA+ (2n) micronucleus. Soluble cell extracts prepared from these heterokaryons have been assayed for galactokinase activity, using a radiometric assay for the conversion of galactose to galactose-1-phosphate (gal-1-P). No galactokinase activity attributable to the micronuclear genes is observed in such heterokaryons. These results, obtained with the galA1 marker, provide the first direct, quantitative evidence for the lack of micronuclear (germ line) gene expression in Tetrahymena during vegetative growth, and substantiate the predictions of previous phenotypic observations on heterokaryons and autoradiographic studies of micronuclear RNA synthesis. The generality of this conclusion will be established in the future when other enzymically assayable mutations become available for similar studies.