A lectin-like molecule is discharged from mucocysts of Tetrahymena pyriformis in the presence of insulin.
By use of a monoclonal antibody directed against purified lectin from the sponge Geodia cydonium it was demonstrated that the mucocysts of Tetrahymena pyriformis contain a substance immunologically similar to that found in G. cydonium. In extracts of T. pyriformis the monoclonal antibody recognizes a 36 kDa protein; binding could be abolished by adsorption of the antibody with (i) crude extract, (ii) purified lectin from G. cydonium and (iii) a 29 aa long peptide. In addition the data show that 10(-6) M of insulin causes first the release of mucocyst material, which reacts with the lectin antibody, and second its subsequent redistribution on the surface of the somatic cilia and the oral field.
Kovács
P
P
Department of Biology, Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest, Hungary.
Müller
W E
WE
Csaba
G
G
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002923:Cilia / Q000737:chemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry; D013769:Tetrahymena pyriformis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007328:Insulin; D037102:Lectins