title: Conjugal blocks in Tetrahymena pattern mutants and their cytoplasmic rescue. I. Broadened cortical domains (bcd).
abstract: The cortical pattern mutant broadened cortical domains (bcd) in Tetrahymena thermophila is unable to complete the nuclear events associated with conjugation. bcd x bcd pairs become arrested at the "nuclear exchange" configuration. Genetic analysis reveals that the bcd conjugal block is 100% penetrant, under macronuclear control, and rescueable (a) by outcrossing to a wild-type partner, (b) by administration of a hyperosmotic shock 5 hr after cells are mixed for mating, or (c) by cytoplasmic transfusion from a wild-type donor. Cytological analysis reveals that the conjugal block is primarily the result of failure in pronuclear fusion (karyogamy). bcd pairs also exhibit reduced nuclear exchange efficiency and a failure of macronuclear anlagen formation. The hypothesis is proposed that the bcd+ gene codes for a microtubule-based organelle "motor" similar to kinesin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D016808:Tetrahymena thermophila / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D014747:Vinblastine; D015739:Nocodazole