Mutations affecting cell division in Tetrahymena pyriformis, syngen 1. II. Phenotypes of single and double homozygotes.

The surface patterns associated with arrest of cell division by temperature-sensitive mutations at five different loci are described. Mutations at the mo1 locus prevent both the subdivision of ciliary meridians that mark the fission zone and the subsequent furrowing. Mutations at mo8 and mo12 cause abnormal configurations in the fission zone and aborted furrowing. Mutations in mo3 and mo6 bring about fission arrest with associated elongation (mo3) or twisting (mo6), even though complete fission zones do develop. The defects in mo1, mo3, and mo12 are expressed in the first division after shift to restrictive temperature, whereas expression of mo6 and of one allele of mo8 are delayed. Following preincubation in an amino acid-free medium at the restrictive temperature, mo8 causes arrest at the first division after readdition of nutrients, while mo6 blocks fission only after one or more divisions at the restrictive temperature. Double homozygotes were constructed containing the mo3^a mutation and mutations at each of the other loci. In addition, mo1^a was combined with mo8^a. In each of the double homozygotes, the characteristic phenotypes of both mutations were simultaneously expressed, and the penetrance of division blockage was very greatly enhanced. The results suggest that the functions of these five loci are not ordered in a single dependent sequence of steps, but rather that these loci probably mediate independent processes required for cytokinesis.