TRANSLATION IN A WHEAT-GERM CELL-FREE SYSTEM OF RNA FROM MITOCHONDRIAOF THE NORMAL AND TEXAS MALE-STERILE CYTOPLASMS OF MAIZE (ZEA-MAYS L)

RNA isolated from etiolated seedling shoot mitochondria of maize (Zea mays L.) with normal (N) or Texas male-sterile (T) cytoplasm stimulate d the incorporation of [S-35]-methionine into protein when added to a cell-free protein-synthesizing system from wheat germ. Discrete polype ptides with molecular masses of up to approximately 67 kDa were synthe sized, and the pattern of bands was distinct from that obtained with t otal RNA. Products of translation of T-urf13 RNA were identified by im munoprecipitation, and of atpA, coxI, and coxII RNA by hybrid arrest o f translation by the cloned gene. Several polypeptides were differenti ally synthesized from N and T mitochondrial RNA; these differences wer e more extensive than those found when isolated, intact, N and T mitoc hondria are allowed to synthesize proteins.