Turnover and transport of agglutinins in conjugating Chlamydomonas gametes

• Published in: Protoplasma 1990-01, Vol.155 (1/3), p.200-209
• Main Authors: Tomson, A.M, Demets, R, Spronsen, E.A. van, Brakenhoff, G.J, Stegwee, D, Ende, H. van den
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adhesion; agglutinins; Biological and medical sciences; cell adhesion; Chlamydomonas; Chlamydomonas eugametos; communication; conjugation; flagellum; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; gamete activation; germ cells; mating behavior; movement; Plant physiology and development; receptor turnover; receptors; sexual reproduction; strains; turnover; Vegetative and sexual reproduction, floral biology, fructification
• ISSN: 0033-183X; 1615-6102
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01322629

By viewing flagella of conjugating gametes in a confocal scanning laser microscope after immuno-labelling of the agglutinins, evidence was obtained for a linear arrangement of the agglutinins in two rows on the flagellar surface. This suggests that after insertion at the base of the flagellum, the agglutinins follow linear tracks to the tip and that the transport system is confined to two longitudinal domains. It is estimated that the half-life of flagellar agglutinins drops from 1-2 h in nonconjugating gametes to 1 min during conjugation, which suggests that after incorporation at the flagellar base, the agglutinins migrate to the tip with a velocity of 100 nm/s. Presumably after arrival at the tip, the molecules are inactivated. It is postulated that rapid turnover and transport of agglutinins are required for optimal signalling between partner gametes.