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Journal of Experimental Biology 39,359-372 (1962)
Published by Company of Biologists 1962

Desquamation in Actinophrys: Induction and Inhibition

J. A. KITCHING ¹

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Bristol

1. The ‘skin’ raised by Actinophrys sol in response to bovine plasma albumin is thicker and more coherent in higher concentrations of the protein, and imprisons the Actinophrys for longer.

2. Escape from thick skins is effected by the swelling of vacuoles, after the manner used by various Protozoa in excystment.

3. Some limited power of further desquamation is recovered after an interval of one day.

4. Desquamation can occur at all pH values from 5.4 to 9.0. However, skins are not formed in the more alkaline solutions at low concentrations of plasma albumin.

5. Gelatin and ribonuclease are active in provoking desquamation. Egg albumin is less effective. Various amino acids proved entirely ineffective.

6. Various inorganic salts failed to cause desquamation. Desquamation in response to bovine plasma albumin was visibly inhibited by the presence of MgSO₄, MgCla₂ and (to some extent) by salts of Sr and Ca. A competition between Mg and the protein pr active sites is suggested.

7. A mixture of MgSO₄ and serum albumin provoke a temporary spreading and lobulation of the bases of the axopods.

8. In solutions of MgSO₄ or bovine plasma albumin, separate individuals of Actinopkrys tend to fuse together in ‘plasmogamy’.

9. The various observations are tentatively interpreted primarily in terms of a surface reaction, although it is likely that the mechanisms of response are complicated.