Mating-type-specific soluble factors (gamones) in cell interaction of conjugation in the ciliateOxytricha bifaria

✍ Scribed by Esposito, Fulvio ;Ricci, Nicola ;Nobili, Renzo

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1976
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 447 KB
• Volume: 197
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-104X
• DOI: 10.1002/jez.1401970208

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Sexual reproduction in Ciliates occurs through pair formation (conjugation) between cells of complementary mating types. In many species, after complementary cells are brought together, a waiting period ensues, which lasts up to the initial visible ciliary interaction leading to cell pairing. An exchange of information, mediated by soluble factors (gamones) takes place during the waiting period of Oxytricha bifaria. This hypotrich ciliate possesses a multiple mating type breeding system, and conjugation may thus occur between cells belonging to any two mating types. The excreted gamones being mating type specific, differ from each other. Any cell pretreated with any one of the complementary gamones starts pairing immediately after mixing. Thus cell interaction does not require heterologous cell to cell contact during the waiting period. A simple readily made apparatus to detect the exchange of information through soluble factors, is described.