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Concanavalin A binding to Chlamydomonas eugametos flagellar proteins and its effect on sexual reproduction

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Abstract

The relative amounts of Concanavalin A (Con A) bound by gamete and vegetative flagella of both mating types (mt + and mt -) of Chlamydomonas eugametos were determined using 125I-Con A. Con A agglutinated all cell types by cross-linking their flagella in a random manner. No correlation was found between the extent of Con A-binding and Con A-mediated isoagglutination. Con A inhibited the sexual interaction between gametes at various levels. In mt + gametes it blocked sexual agglutination, whereas in mt - gametes it prevented papillar fusion. By SDS-gel electrophoresis nine Con A-binding components were found to be present in flagella. However, it was not possible to allocate a role in sexual agglutination to any of these components since they were present in all cell types, including vegetative cells which are not able to sexually agglutinate.

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Abbreviations

Con A:

concanavalin A

SDS:

sodium dodecyl sulphate

TB:

Tris buffer

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline

HRP:

horse radish peroxidase

SEM:

scanning electron microscope

PAS:

periodic acid Schiff

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Musgrave, A., van der Steuyt, P. & Ero, L. Concanavalin A binding to Chlamydomonas eugametos flagellar proteins and its effect on sexual reproduction. Planta 147, 51–56 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384590

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384590

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