Mating-reactive membrane vesicles from cilia of Paramecium caudatum.

Abstract

Membrane vesicles with a high mating reactivity were obtained from cilia of P. caudatum by treatment with a solution containing 2 M urea and 0.1 mM Na2-EDTA. All processes of conjucation were induced in cells of the complementary mating type by approximately 10 .mu.g/ml proteins of the vesicles. Electron microscope observation showed membrane vesicle a diameter to be 100-150 nm. Electrophoretic analysis on [sodium dodecyl sulfate] polyacrylamide gel revealed no significant difference in polypeptide patterns of the particles from the 2 complementary mating types.