ARS activity along the yeast mitochondrial apocytochrome b region: correlation with the location of petite genomes and consensus sequences.

Seven MboI fragments spanning the mitochondrial apocytochrome b gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D273-10B were cloned in the BamHI site of the integrative yeast vector YIp5 and the capacity for autonomous replication was subsequently assayed in yeast. The positive correlation found between the ars-like activity in four fragments and the presence of regions common to multiple ethidium bromide-induced petite (rho-) genomes suggests that the mitochondrial sequences possibly active as origins of replication in low-complexity neutral or weakly suppressive rho- mutants could be functionally related to the yeast nuclear replicator 11 nucleotide motif defined by Broach et al. (1983).