A
cesium chloride gradient of total DNA isolated from yeast cells containing
a rho- deletion mutant in its mitochondrial genome. Mitochondrial DNA in
yeast is approximately 80% A/T base pairs, which
makes
it significantly less dense than chromosomal DNA. The photograph shows
Hoechst 33258 (bis-benzimide) stained total yeast DNA run in a Sorval Discovery
90SE Ultracentrifuge for 20 hours at 55,000 rpms. The DNA is fluorescing
in the presence of UV light. The bright band 2/3 down the tube
is the chromosomal DNA, the loghter band right underneath it is ribosomal
DNA which has a higher G/C content. The light band in the center
of the tube is mitochondrial DNA.