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The Effect of 2‐Mercapto‐1‐(Beta‐4‐Pyridethyl) Benzimidazole (MPB) on Cell Differentiation and RNA Synthesis in the Protozoon Tetrahymena vorax 1
Author(s) -
NICOLETTE JOHN A.,
BUHSE HOWARD E.,
ROBIN MARTIN S.
Publication year - 1971
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.1550-7408.1971.tb03286.x
Subject(s) - tetrahymena pyriformis , tetrahymena , benzimidazole , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , biology , population , protein biosynthesis , transformation (genetics) , cell , chemistry , biochemistry , gene , organic chemistry , demography , sociology
SYNOPSIS. Differentiation of small‐mouthed cells (microstomes) into large‐mouthed, potentially carnivorous cells (macrostomes) in Tetrahymena vorax is prevented by 2‐mercapto‐1‐(β‐4‐pyridethyl) benzimidazole (MPB). This differentiation, induced by the transforming principle, stomatin, isolated from the potential prey, Tetrahymena pyriformis , is a synchronous process in which 70–95% of the population of T. vorax microstomes transform into macrostomes within 450 min. MPB also inhibits RNA synthesis in transforming microstomes while having little effect on protein synthesis. Finally, the effect of MPB on both transformation and RNA synthesis is reversible.