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Transport of membrane receptors and the mechanics of sexual cell fusion in Chlamydomonas eugametos
Author(s) -
Homan Wieger,
Sigon Corrien,
van den Briel Wies,
Wagter Ron,
de Nobel Hans,
Mesland Dick,
Musgrave Alan,
van den Ende Herman
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(87)80170-9
Subject(s) - flagellum , biology , chlamydomonas , gamete , sexual reproduction , microbiology and biotechnology , chlamydomonas reinhardtii , lipid bilayer fusion , biophysics , botany , membrane , biochemistry , gene , sperm , mutant
During sexual reproduction in the heterothallic, biflagellate, green alga Chlamydomonas , gametes adhere together via their agglutinins, sex‐specific glycoproteins extrinsically bound to the flagellar membrane. Using an antibody specific for a C. eugametos agglutinin, we illustrate that agglutinins engaged in adhesion are transported to the flagellar tips. This tipping phenomenon, together with a particular orientation of the flagella, forms part of the mechanism by which gametes position themselves properly for fusion in pairs.