Abstract
We recently showed that the mitochondria elicit the signal in response to respiration and regulate the photosynthesis gene's expression, in a unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. However, it is uncertain whether the target genes of this signaling is restricted to photosynthesis genes or not. To answer this question, we searched for the genes whose expressions are regulated in response to mitochondrial respiration, with the aid of Chlamydomonas cDNA macroarray, on which 10000 cDNAs are spotted. We found that the mRNA levels of ca. 600 genes changed when acetate, a respiration substrate was added to Chlmamydomonas cells. Among them, ca. 150 genes were regulated by respiration, because their responsiveness was disturbed by a respiration inhibitor, antimycin A. Characterization of these genes and physiological significance of the mitochondrial signal will be discussed.
