Correlation of encystment and division in Schizopyrenus russelli.
Schizopyrenus russelli, a free-living soil ameba, grows and encysts in the presence of bacteria. The encystment occurs with decline in the division rate. This is accompanied by incorporation of [U-14C] glucose into cyst cellulose. The degree of multiplication (but not of encystment) is a function of bacterial concentration. Berenil, a trypanocidal drug, while allowing excystment, completely inhibited multiplication of emerged amebae and their encystment. Addition of this drug after 24 hr, when amebae had gone into a phase of active division failed to check encystment, although it still inhibited further multiplication of the amebae. The findings suggest that a phase of cell division may be a prerequisite for encystment.
D000656:Amoeba / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002482:Cellulose / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004133:Diminazene / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism
D002482:Cellulose; D005947:Glucose; D004133:Diminazene