Premium
The Effect of Trypsin on the Pellicle of Euglena gracilis
Author(s) -
KIRK J. T. O.
Publication year - 1964
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.1550-7408.1964.tb01776.x
Subject(s) - euglena gracilis , trypsin , lysis , distilled water , chemistry , laboratory flask , incubation , osmotic pressure , biochemistry , glycerol , chromatography , biology , enzyme , chloroplast , gene
SYNOPSIS. The effect of trypsin on the pellicle of Euglena gracilis has been studied. A simple apparatus which permits the incubation of a number of culture flasks under identical conditions of illumination is described. Cells of E. gracilis suspended in 0.01 M NH 4 HCO 3 are rapidly lysed by trypsin. Lysis is prevented by 0.3 M sucrose, 0.3 M glucose, 0.3 M glycerol, 0.15 M KBr or 0.15 M NaCl. After treatment with trypsin in the presence of a protective solute the cells are still osmotically stable when resuspended in distilled water, indicating that free protoplasts are not liberated. These solutes do not protect isolated, empty pellicles against the action of trypsin. It is suggested that cells of E. gracilis are only susceptible to trypsin when they are swollen as a result of exposure to hypotonic media: that the resultant stretching of the pellicle permits lysis by allowing the enzyme to penetrate to sites which are normally hidden.