Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 September 2008
DNA synthesis in organelles seems to be an early event during maize germination. Mitochondria and plastids from maize embryo axes have been separated using differential and gradient centrifugations and DNA polymerase activity has been studied in extracts from each organelle. It has been found that the enzymes from both organelles show some differences from other plant organellar polymerases in terms of response to specific inhibitors, DNA templates and cations. A comparison of different plant organellar DNA polymerases is presented.