Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1971 Feb;68(2):459–463. doi: 10.1073/pnas.68.2.459

Zoospore Germination in Blastocladiella emersonii: Cell Differentiation without Protein Synthesis?*

D R Soll 1,†, D R Sonneborn 1,‡
PMCID: PMC388960  PMID: 5277101

Abstract

Evidence is presented to suggest that several early events of zoospore germination in the water mold, Blastocladiella emersonii, are not dependent upon concomitant protein synthesis. The events involve abrupt, dramatic changes in cell architecture. On account of this evidence, as well as evidence available from other sources, we question whether differential protein synthesis provides an exclusive and sufficient mechanism for phenotypic change (i.e., cell differentiation). Rather, we argue that mechanisms for bringing about structural alterations in the preformed machinery of the cell should also be given attention.

Full text

PDF
459

Images in this article

459Image
on p.459

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Britten R. J., Davidson E. H. Gene regulation for higher cells: a theory. Science. 1969 Jul 25;165(3891):349–357. doi: 10.1126/science.165.3891.349. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brown D. D., Dawid I. B. Specific gene amplification in oocytes. Oocyte nuclei contain extrachromosomal replicas of the genes for ribosomal RNA. Science. 1968 Apr 19;160(3825):272–280. doi: 10.1126/science.160.3825.272. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Camargo E. P., Dietrich C. P., Sonneborn D., Strominger J. L. Biosynthesis of chitin in spores and growing cells of Blastocladiella emersonii. J Biol Chem. 1967 Jul 10;242(13):3121–3128. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Green D. E., Asai J., Harris R. A., Penniston J. T. Conformational basis of energy transformations in membrane systems. 3. Configurational changes in the mitochondrial inner membrane induced by changes in functional states. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1968 May;125(2):684–705. doi: 10.1016/0003-9861(68)90626-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Harris R. A., Penniston J. T., Asai J., Green D. E. The conformational basis of energy conservation in membrane systems. II. Correlation between conformational change and functional states. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1968 Mar;59(3):830–837. doi: 10.1073/pnas.59.3.830. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Huxley H. E. The mechanism of muscular contraction. Science. 1969 Jun 20;164(3886):1356–1365. doi: 10.1126/science.164.3886.1356. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Koshland D. E., Jr, Neet K. E. The catalytic and regulatory properties of enzymes. Annu Rev Biochem. 1968;37:359–410. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bi.37.070168.002043. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Kushner D. J. Self-assembly of biological structures. Bacteriol Rev. 1969 Jun;33(2):302–345. doi: 10.1128/br.33.2.302-345.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. LOVETT J. S. CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF "NUCLEAR CAPS" ISOLATED FROM BLASTOCLADIELLA ZOOSPORES. J Bacteriol. 1963 Jun;85:1235–1246. doi: 10.1128/jb.85.6.1235-1246.1963. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Lovett J. S. Reactivation of ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis during germination of Blastocladiella zoospores and the role of the ribosomal nuclear cap. J Bacteriol. 1968 Oct;96(4):962–969. doi: 10.1128/jb.96.4.962-969.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Luria S. E. Phage, colicins, and macroregulatory phenomena. Science. 1970 Jun 5;168(3936):1166–1170. doi: 10.1126/science.168.3936.1166. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. MONOD J., CHANGEUX J. P., JACOB F. Allosteric proteins and cellular control systems. J Mol Biol. 1963 Apr;6:306–329. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(63)80091-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Soll D. R., Bromberg R., Sonneborn D. R. Zoospore germination in the water mold. Blastocladiella emersonii. I. Measurement of germination and sequence of subcellular morphological changes. Dev Biol. 1969 Sep;20(3):183–217. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(69)90012-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Soll D. R., Sonneborn D. R. Zoospore germination in the water mold. Blastocladiella emersonii. II. Influence of cellular and environmental variables on germination. Dev Biol. 1969 Sep;20(3):218–235. doi: 10.1016/0012-1606(69)90013-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Truesdell L. C., Cantino E. C. Decay of gamma particles in germinating zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii. Arch Mikrobiol. 1970;70(4):378–392. doi: 10.1007/BF00425421. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America are provided here courtesy of National Academy of Sciences

RESOURCES