An early step in initiation of fertilization inParamecium: Early micronuclear migration

✍ Scribed by Fujishima, Masahiro ;Hiwatashi, K.

• Book ID: 102892466
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1977
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 683 KB
• Volume: 201
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1402010115

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Micronuclear behavior in the early stage of conjugation in P. caudatum was observed. In stationary phase, the micronucleus is in a concavity of the macronucleus, but within 30 minutes after the mating reaction occurs or the cells are transferred into KCl solution for chemical induction of conjugation, the micronucleus leaves the concavity and moves into the cytoplasm. This phenomenon, called “early micronuclear migration” (EMM), occurs in about 90% of the cells prior to formation of holdfast union. The proportion of cells undergoing EMM is the same as the proportion of conjugants. Micronuclear migration is delayed by treatment with 5 mM colchicine, suggesting a role for microtubules in the phenomenon.