CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR BLASTOMERES OF CIONA INTESTINALIS

Abstract

Anterior and posterior blasto-meres of the 4-cell stage of Ciona intestinalis were separated for quantitative microchemical analyses of succinic dehydrogenase, apyrase, acid and alkaline phosphatases, and ribonucleic acid. Larger amounts of succinic dehydrogenase, apyrase and ribonucleic acid were found in homogenates of posterior cells whereas acid phosphatase activity was higher in anterior cells. The pH-activity curves of apyrases from anterior and posterior cells are similar, indicating a quantitative segregation of this enzyme. The unequal distribution of succinic dehydrogenase, apyrase and, possibly indirectly, acid phosphatase, is probably the result of a segregation of mitochondria.