title: Ethanol stimulates phospholipid turnover and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in Chlamydomonas eugametos gametes.
abstract: Alcohols induce mating-structure activation in Chlamydomonas eugametos gametes. From the effect of ethanol on the (32)P-labelling of polyphosphoinositides, we conclude that the synthesis of these lipids is stimulated. Biologically inactive concentrations of ethanol (<6%) had no effect on synthesis, but 6-8% ethanol stimulated synthesis for upto 60 min. The (32)P incorporated into polyphosphoinositides and phosphatidic acid during ethanol treatment was readily chased out when 1 mM unlabelled Na3PO4 was added. Using a binding assay for inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, we show that the production of this phospholipid constituent is dramatically increased after ethanol treatment. This effect, coupled to a rise in intracellular calcium concentration, could explain gamete activation. The significance of these results in explaining other ethanol-induced phenomena in algae is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of Amsterdam, Kruislaan 318, NL-1098, SM Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Musgrave
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jongen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Wildt
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schuring
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klerk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van den Ende