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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 3944

Wolfgang W. Lueken, Heinz Breer, and Martina Hartkemeyer; Local and Temporal Pattern of Con A-Binding Site Aggregation during Conjugation in Euplotes vannus (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida). J.Protozool. 28(4):414-417, 1981

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Conjugating cells of Euplotes vannus (syngens Naples and Barcares) were investigated for Con A-binding sites by means of fluorescence microscopy. Cells fixed with 0.4% paraformaldehyde and incubated with 15 µg/ml [FITC-Con A] showed a distinct region of strong florescence, the size, shape and localization of which characteristically changed during the course of conjugation, first appearing at courtship stage (cells contact without forming pairs) and vanishing soon after the migration pronuclei have been exchanged, but before cells have separated. Con A-binding and conjugation were blocked by cycloheximide and alpha-galactosidase. Con A-binding was also inhibited by alpha-mannosidase, alpha-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase without affecting conjugation except a delay of pair formation. The results suggest an involvement of newly formed or translocated glycoconjugates in cell pairing during conjugation.