Different and selective chemotactic responses of Tetrahymena pyriformis to two families of signal molecules: lectins and peptide hormones.
Tetrahymena chemotactically responds to the presence of different signal molecules. The response elicited is different to peptide hormones and to lectins however the cell distinguishes the individual members of the two groups. The negative chemotactic effect is characteristic of the hormones tested and it is especially true for oxytocin and vasopressin, however Tetrahymena distinguishes also these two hormones. While the effect of hormones was mainly independent to the concentration tested, lectins elicit an increasing chemoattractant effect above 10(-9) M concentration. Below 10(-9) M the sugar specific, receptor level effect of lectins is probable. The experiments draw attention to the perceptional selectivity of Tetrahymena embodied in chemotaxis.
Köhidai
L
L
Department of Biology, Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest, Hungary.
Csaba
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002633:Chemotaxis; D006728:Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013769:Tetrahymena pyriformis / Q000187:drug effects*
D006728:Hormones; D037102:Lectins