Abstract
Gametes of opposite mating type (mt + and mt -) of the green alga Chlamydomonas eugametos agglutinate via their flagella as a prelude to sexual fusion. To quantitate sexual agglutination, an in vitro assay has been developed using 35S-labeled flagella and the isolated mt -agglutination factor. It is shown that not only isolated flagella, but also the mt -agglutination factor rapidly bind to the flagella of intact gametes of the opposite mating type. This confirms the role of the mt -agglutination factor in determining the sexual agglutinability of mt -gametes. As a function of binding, the agglutinative power of the flagella of both mating types is destroyed by a temperature-sensitive process. Likewise, the mt -agglutination factor can be completely inactivated.
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Abbreviations
- Mt +/- :
-
mating type plus or minus
- PAS:
-
periodic-acid Schiff-reagent
- Hepes:
-
4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethansulfonic acid
- HMC buffer:
-
Hepes buffer (10 mM. pH 7.2, containing 1 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM CaCl2)
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Fijst, H.L.A., Ossendorp, F.A., van Egmond, P. et al. Sex-specific binding and inactivation of agglutination factor in Chlamydomonas eugametos . Planta 160, 529–535 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411141
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00411141