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Nucleic Acid Digestion and Macronuclear Form in Cannibal Blepharisma , New York University Strain *
Author(s) -
TULCHIN N.,
HIRSHFIELD HENRY I.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1962.tb02606.x
Subject(s) - vacuole , nucleic acid , macronucleus , digestion (alchemy) , dna , rna , biology , feulgen stain , strain (injury) , biochemistry , chemistry , gene , cytoplasm , anatomy , chromatography
SYNOPSIS. Cannibal giant Blepharisma undulans americanus , NYU strain, grown in mass culture, showed increased numbers of macronuclear lobes and greater variability in their number, compared to the bacteria‐fed form. Feulgen and methyl greenpyronin preparations stained both the DNA and RNA of the cannibals and of the ingested forms within the food vacuoles. During the first 3 to 6 hours of digestion, macronucleus and deoxyribonucleic acid disappear from the food vacuole; during the last 6 hours the ribonucleic acid disappears from the food vacuole; DNA and RNA are therefore presumed to be digested and absorbed.