Protoplasmic Streaming: A Perennial Puzzle *

SUMMARY. Following a brief historical review and critique of the main theories of amoeboid movement, the recent work of Goldacre and Lorch, relating plasmagel contraction to the folding and unfolding of protein molecules, is discussed; and some new observations are presented concerning the behavior of the plasmagel in amoebae vitally stained with neutral red. Similarities between contraction of vertebrate muscle and amoeba plasmagel are discussed, and a summary of recent work suggesting that adenosine triphosphate and actomyosin‐like proteins may be involved in amoeboid movement is given. A re‐examination of the meaning of the terms plasmagel and plasmasol indicates their relative nature denoting only comparative degrees of viscosity. Recent observations as to the nature of the plasmalemma are reviewed, and evidence is presented for the existence of an external slime layer in Amoeba proteus (not in all amoebae), which slides over the visible pellicle carrying adherent foreign particles forward from the precaudal region. The inadequacy of the contracting gel tube theory for explaining many types of protoplasmic streaming is pointed out.