NUCLEO-CYTOPLASMIC INTERACTION DURING CONJUGATION IN TETRAHYMENA

Abstract

1. The details of the nuclear processes occurring at conjugation in certain selfing strains (AA strains) of Tetrahymena are presented with an experimental analysis of certain of the factors influencing nuclear behavior and nuclear differentiation. 2. While it is not possible at the present time to describe in detail the mechanisms operating to assure an orderly sequence of events, it is clear that the cytoplasm plays a critical role in directing the activities of the nuclei. This is demonstrated by two facts: that the various events are specifically localized in the cytoplasm and that experimental alterations in the positions of the nuclei result in alterations in nuclear behavior. 3. It is concluded that the entire conjugation cycle proceeds as a complex series of nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions.