DNA elimination and its relation to quantities in the macronucleus of Tetrahymena

The macronucleus of Tetrahymena contains a large number of DNA molecules of subchromosomal size. They belong to about 270 species each one occurring at an average number of 45 copies Macronuclei divide unequally and nothing is known of segregation control. This and the elimination and degradation of DNA during macronuclear amitosis make the clonal stability of macronuclei a problem of qualitative and quantitative control on a subchromosomal level. We studied the contribution of DNA elimination to the quantitative composition of the macronucleus cytophotometrically in single cells of different strains. This was done under standard conditions and under conditions known to influence the amount of macronuclear DNA. The following results were found: Elimination of DNA occurs at almost every division. The size of the elimination body is highly variable but still positively correlated with the macronuclear DNA content. In T. thermophila the amount of eliminated DNA is 2.5% of the G2 content and is not dependent on the growth state. It varies with species, amounting to as much as 8% in T pigmentosa. During conditions which increase the macronuclear DNA content, very little DNA is eliminate. On the other hand, large amounts are eliminated under other conditions causing the macronuclear DNA content to decrease. DNA to be eliminated at division is synthesized at the same time as bulk DNA. We developed a computer program which helps us study the effects of DNA elimination and unequal divisions upon the copy numbers of subchromosomal DNA classes. The result indicates that in a given cell line at least one of the DNA molecules becoms extinct after 60 generations which we expect would cause the cell's extinction and restrict a clone's life to 60 generations. As this does not happen in nature, there must be some control of the copy numbers preventing their extinction during vegetative multiplication. Whether elimination increases or decreases the imbalance of genes remains to be investigated. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.