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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 7672

Franco Verni and Giovanna Rosati; Cytochemical Investigation of Enzymatic Activity during Conjugation of the Ciliate Euplotes crassus. Protistologica XVIII(2):185-191, 1982

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In the conjugative process in ciliates specific proteins are involved. Starting from the hypothesis that some of these substances may be enzymatic in nature, a cytochemical study was undertaken on Euplotes crassus cells, engaged in sexual reproduction. By means of the thiolacetic acid procedure applied at the electron microscope a variation in the enzymatic activity of E. crassus cells was demonstrated, that follows a well defined pathway during the successive phases of conjugant interaction. This fact suggests that the enzymes revealed by the technique here employed have a specific role during the mating process.