Preconjugant cell interaction inEuplotes crassus: An analysis by temporary cycloheximide treatments
✍ Scribed by Dini, F. ;Miyake, A.
- Book ID
- 102892737
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1982
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 822 KB
- Volume
- 220
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0022-104X
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
Conjugation in ciliates is induced by the interaction between preconjugant cells of complementary mating types. We investigated this interaction in Euplotes crassus by inserting a temporary treatment of 10 μg/ml cycloheximide before and during the interaction. This agent effectively inhibits protein synthesis and reversibly inhibits conjugation in this species. Our results indicate that 1) preconjugants of each mating type have a type‐specific protein factor for the interaction; 2) the factor is in a state of equilibrium of turnover and synthesis; 3) interaction by these factors induces a higher production of the same factors; 4) at the beginning of this interaction, a nonprotein factor, which participates in the preconjugant interaction in a still unspecified way, is produced; and 5) the interaction also transforms the cell surface so that cells can unite in conjugant pairs. Preconjugant interaction of E. crassus is, therefore, very similar to that of Paramecium in spite of the behavioral differences during preconjugant interaction—for example, presence (E. crassus) versus absence (Paramecium) of the waiting period. This investigation also supports the positive feedback hypothesis of the mating reaction by Heckmann and Siegel ('64). Our finding of the new reaction at the beginning of the interaction might provide a new clue for the analysis of preconjugant interaction in ciliates.