Cell wall regeneration by protoplasts of Chlamydomonas

Abstract

Protoplasts from Chlamydomonas smithii prepared by the action of C. reinhardii gamete autolysine have been studied with respect to cell wall regeneration. “Natural” protoplasts within sporangia were also investigated for purposes of comparison. In both cases a new cell wall is completed within 2–3 h of the onset of regeneration. The first visible stages of wall regeneration are to be seen after 40–60 min as a fine fringe outside of the plasmalemma. The development of the typical “central triplet” follows within the next 1 h. Cell wall regeneration is reversibly inhibited by cycloheximide (10μg ml^-1) and reversibly disturbed by concanavalin A (50 μg ml^-1). Actinomycin D at concentration over 100μg ml^-1 also inhibit but the inhibition is irreversible and peculiar membrane effects are observed. Chelators (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid; ethyleneglycol-bis-aminoethyl ether) and 2-deoxyglucose slightly retard or have no effect on cell wall regeneration.