Actin and myosin and cell movement

Isolation and characterization of myosin from the adrenal medulla

A protein with adenosine triphosphatase activity was isolated from bovine adrenal medulla and subsequently purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and agarose gel filtration using a discontinuous two-buffer system. Characterization of this protein by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate, by assay of the activity of Ca2+, K(+)-EDTA and Mg2+ dependent adenosine triphosphatases by amino acid analysis and by electron microscopy has shown that the adrenal medullary myosin closely resembles those myosins isolated from muscle and other non-muscle cells. The possible roles of myosin in the adrenal medulla are discussed.

Actin polymerization and interaction with other proteins in temperature-induced gelation of sea urchin egg extracts

The gel which forms on warming the extracts of the cytoplasmic proteins of sea urchin eggs has been separated into two fractions, one containing F-actin and the other containing two proteins of 58,000 and 22,000 mol wt. When combined in 0.1 M KCl, even at 0 degrees C, these components will form gel material identical to that formed by warming extracts. This gel is a network of laterally aggregated F-actin filaments which are in register and which display a complex cross-banding pattern generated by the presence of the other two proteins. Low concentrations of calcium block the assembly of these proteins to form this complex structure, which may play some cytoskeletal role in the cytoplasm. This association of F-actin with the other proteins to form a gel is very likely the last step fo the process occurring in warmed extracts. At low temperatures, gelation of extracts is limited by the relative absence of F-actin, as demonstrated by the inability to sediment it at 100,000 g and also by the fact that gelation occurs immediately if exogenous F-actin is added to cold extracts. The transformation of the G-actin present in the extract to the F-form is apparently repressed at low temperatures. This is shown directly by the failure of added G-actin to polymerize at low temperatures in the presence of extract. These observations resemble those which have been reported on preparations from amoeboid cells and may be significant in the involvement of actin and these other proteins in cell division and later developmental processes.

Actin-like filaments in the Sertoli cell junctional specializations in the swine and mouse testis

Microfilaments at the junctional specializations between adjacent Sertoli cells and between the Sertoli cell and the late spermatid of the mouse and swine testes bind HMM and form arrowhead complexes with a periodicity of about 35 nm. The arrowhead formation is inhibited when the tissues are treated with HMM in the presence of ATP. These observations show that the microfilaments are actin-like in nature. The functional significance of these filaments in the Sertoli cell is discussed.

The purification and quantitation of myosin from cultured cells

Myosin has been purified from the following cultured cell lines: normal rat kidney fibroblast (NRK), HeLa-Rhino (HeLa), human choriocarcinoma, human acute lymphoblastic leukemia, rat hepatoma (HTC), monkey kidney (VERO), pigmented mouse melanoma, Y-1 rat adrenal cortex, and growth hormone-secreting GH-1. Myosin constitutes 0.5-5.4% of the protein of these cells. It was not detected in washed human erythrocytes or in two types of mouse plasmacytoma cells. Two methods for the purification of myosin from cultured cells have been employed. With Method I highly purified myosin was prepared by Sepharose 4B and DEAE-cellulose chromatography from 10(10) L-929 cells as well as from mouse uterus. Those myosins have similar molecular and subunit weights as well as ATPase activity but are immunologically distinct. Method II involving ultracentrifugation and Sepharose 4B chromatography, is suitable for the production of moderately pure myosin in good yield from as few as 5-10(7) cells (five 100-mm Petrie dishes).

Comparative studies on amino and thiol groups in myosins from different sources

Myosins from rabbit white and red skeletal, rabbit heart, fish skeletal and chicken gizzard muscles, as well as from human platelets were subjected to trinitrophenylation by trinitrobenzene sulfonate and alkylation by N-ethylmeleimide which affected their amino and thiol groups, respectively. The blocking of amino groups was carried out in the presence or in the absence of Mg-ADP and was followed both spectrophotometrically and enzymatically. Essential amino groups, whose modification throughly changes the enzymic characteristics of myosin, were found in heart and in all skeletal muscle myosins but were absent in myosins from chicken gizzard muscle and from human platelets. The reaction of these amino groups was highly retarded in the presence of Mg-ADP. Alkylation of thiols led to loss of the K+-activated ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) in all myosins. However, the rate of loss of activity varied from one myosin to another and, for a given myosin, was affected by the presence of nucleotides and by the value of the ionic strength. The change in Ca(2+)-activated ATPase activity (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) on alkylation was influenced by the presence of Mg - ADP during the reaction. In the absence of this nucleotide, the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity increased and reached a plateau as a consequence of modification. The extent of activation largely depended on the origin of the myosin. When alkylation was carried out in the presence of Mg-ADP, the Ca(2+)-ATPase activity as a function of time exhibited a maximum but the descending part of the curve was absent in myosins from heart and gizzard muscles.

Actin filament-membrane attachment: are membrane particles involved?

The association of actin filaments with membranes is an important feature in the motility of nonmuscle cells. We investigated the role of membrane particles in the attachment of actin filaments to membranes in those systems in which the attachment site can be identified. Freeze fractures through the end-on attachment site of the acrosomal filament bundles in Mytilus (mussel) and Limulus (horseshoe crab) sperm and the attachment site of the microvillar filament bundles in the brush border of intestinal epithelial cells were examined. There are no particles on the P face of the membrane at these sites in the sperm systems and generally none at these sites in microvilli. In microvilli, the actin filaments are also attached along their lengths to the membrane by bridges. When the isolated brush border is incubated in high concentrations of Mg++ (15 mM), the actin filaments form paracrystals and, as a result, the bridges are in register (330 A period). Under these conditions, alignment of the particles on the P face of the membrane into circumferential bands also occurs. However, these bands are generally separated by 800-900 A, indicating that all the bridges cannot be directly attached to membrane particles. Thus membrane particles are not directly involved in the attachment of actin filaments to membranes.

Topography of the synaptosomal membrane

The composition and disposition of the constituent polypeptides of rat cerebral cortical synaptosomal membranes were analyzed on SDS acrylamide gels. Of 20 bands readily detected, 11 account for greater than 93% of the total protein analyzed. These are: (molecu25); 3 (175); 4 (doublet, 137); 5 (doublet, 97); 6 (68); 7 (61); 8 (54); 9 (44); 10 (37); and 11 (33). Bands 5 and 8-10 are the most prominent and account for greater than 60% of the protein mass or 0.67 of its molecular fraction. By lactoperoxidase iodination, the bulk of the proteins in bands 3, 5, 6, and 8 and a portion of band 11 appear to be located on the external (junctional) face of the membrane of intact synaptosomes; proteins in bands 1, 2, 7, 9, and 10 appear to be localized on the internal (synaptoplasmic) face and become labeled only when synaptosomes are lysed. Further confirmation of the topographical distribution is provided by evidence that bands 3-6, 8, and 11 contain glycoproteins susceptible to labeling in intact synaptosomes by oxidation with galactose oxidase or periodate followed by reduction with NaB3H4. Evidence is provided for significant contributions by tubulin- and actin-like molecules to bands 8 and 9, respectively, suggesting that a substantial fraction of the tubulin in the synaptosomal membrane is disposed externally (accessible to iodination) whereas most, if not all, of the actin appears to exhibit the opposite topography. Similar though weaker inferences can also be drawn with regard to the location of tropomyosin and troponin. Preliminary evidence is provided that postsynaptic densities exhibit a protein and iodination profile distinct from that of the synpatosomal membrane.

Transformation of cytoplasmic actin. Importance for the organization of the contractile gel reticulum and the contraction--relasation cycle of cytoplasmic actomyosin

(1) Within the low viscous flowing endoplasm of Physarum polycephalum a considerable amount of actin is in the non-filamentous state. This can be demonstrated by applying poly-L-lysin to surface spreads of native protoplasm. (2) It has been shown that in protoplasmic drops the endoplasm-ectoplasm transformation is accompanied by an actin polymerization from the non-filamentous state to F-actin. (3) The actual state of the labile G-F-actin equilibrium determines the varying consistency (viscosity) of the cytoplasm. (4) Increasing viscosity can be interpreted as being brought about by a) shifting of the G-F-actin equilibrium to the filamentous side, and (b) increased myosin-mediated binding sites between actin filaments. (5) Polymerization and depolymerization processes are involved in the rhythmically occurring contraction-relaxation cycle of cytoplasmic actomyosin in Physarum. (6) Cytoplasmic actin and myosin represent the architectural proteins of the contractile gel reticulum in eukaryotic cells. (7) The importance of the regulation of actin polymerization as a basic control mechanism of the eukaryotic cell is discussed.

Cytochalasin B inhibits actin-related gelation of HeLa cell extracts

When the 100,000 g supernatant fraction (extract) of HeLa cells lysed in a buffer containing sucrose, ATP, DTE, EGTA, imidazole, and Triton X-100 is incubated at 25 degrees C, it gels, and actin and a HMWP are progressively enriched in the extract and in gel isolated from extract. CB (greater than or equal to 0.25 muM) inhibits gelation and specifically lowers the concentrations of actin and the HMWP in the fraction which sediments at 100,000 g after incubation. These results indicate that actin and HMWP are partly disaggregated by cytochalasin treatment, and thus that their aggregation is related gelation. Inasmuch as previous results showed that actin is present and HMWP is enriched in the plasma membrane fraction of HeLa cells, the results also point to a possible relation between plasma membrane-associated gel and in vivo effects of CB.

Chicken muscle and fibroblast actin structure

Double labelling and the isolation of peptides specific to muscle actin indicates that completely homologous 20-residue peptides can be produced from the C-terminal regions of muscle and chicken-embryo fibroblast actins by treatment with CNBr. By quantification of the amount of this peptide that can be produced from acetone-dried powders by CNBr treatment, 6.8% of the protein of the fibroblasts has been estimated to be actin.

Studies on the mechanism of phagocytosis. II. The interaction of macrophages with anti-immunoglobulin IgG-coated bone marrow-derived lymphocytes

We have examined the effect of the distribution of anti-immunoglobulin IgG molecules on the surface of bone marrow-derived lymphocytes upon the interaction of these cells with macrophages. Lymphocytes which were diffusely coated with antibodies to surface immunoglogulin were ingested by macrophages. Lymphocytes which had the same number of anti-immunoglobulin IgG molecules redistributed to one pole of the surface bound to the macrophages' Fc receptors but were not ingested. These results confirm our previous hypothesis that ingestion of an immunologically coated particle requires the sequential, circumferential binding of specific receptors on the plasma membrane of a phagocytic cell to immunologic ligands distributed over the entire particle surface. Macrophages which had bound capped lymphocytes by the macrophages' Fc receptors removed the immune complex caps from the lymphocyte surface without destroying the lymphocytes. These lymphocytes remained attached to the macrophage surface. The finding that macrophages can phagocytize immune complexes from the surface of a cell without destroying the cell to which these complexes are attached may be important in understanding the effects of antigens and antibodies on cells participating in a humoral immune response, in identifying the mechanisms by which chronic viral infections are established, and in defining the roles of blocking antibodies in tumor immunity.

Contraction of isolated brush borders from the intestinal epithelium

Brush borders isolated from epithelial cells from the small intestine of neonatal rats are able to contract in the presence of ATP and Mg2+; Ca2+ is not required. Contraction is characterized by a pinching-in of the plasma membrane in the region of the zonula adherens and a subsequent rounding of the brush borders. No movement or consistent shortening of the microvilli is observed. The contraction appears to involve the 5- to 7-nm diameter microfilaments in the terminal web which associate with the zonula adherens. These filaments bind heavy meromyosin as do the actin core filaments of the microvilli. A model for contraction is presented in which, in the intact cell, terminal web filaments and core filaments interact to produce shortening of the microvilli.

Developmental changes of calcium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase in rat submandibular gland

Developmental changes in Ca2-+ ATPase activity were determined in submandibular glands of the rat from the fetus to the 300-day-old rat. Ca2+-ATPase in the homogenate fraction showed a rapid increase from the fetus to the 5-day-old rat, and from the 20- to 30-day-old rat. In the microsomal fraction, enzyme activity increased from the fetus to the 10-day-old rat, and after that is remained at almost the same level. Oscillatory phenomena of Ca2+-ATPase were observed in zymogen and mitochondrial fractions.

The localization of skeletal light meromyosin in cells of myogenic cultures

Fluorescent antibodies against skeletal light meromyosin were used to study the localization of this muscle-specific antigen in myotubes, myoblasts, presumptive myoblasts and fibroblasts found in six-day myogenic cultures. The labelled antibody bound only to the lateral edges of the A-bands in myofibrils. The antibody did not bind to antigens in the nucleus, cytoplasm or in the microfilaments beneath the plasmalemma in any of the cell types examined. Similarly, the external face of the cell surface of unfixed, living myotubes and mononucleated cells did not bind the antibody. Immunodiffusion tests confirm these results: high salt extracts of myotube-containing cultures reacted against anti-skeletal light meromyosin, whereas extracts of fibroblasts and presumptive myoblast cultures failed to precipitate the antibody. It is proposed that if myosin is present in the plasmalemma of these cells, as is suggested bhe myofibrils of definitive muscle.

Tissue-specific forms of actin in the developing chick

Actin has been identified in nonmuscle and muscle tissues as a highly conserved homogeneous protein. We have identified and characterized actin from embryonic and adult chick brain and muscle, and have compared these actins by SDS and urea/SDS gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the presence of SDS alone, embryonic or adult brain and muscle actin co-migrate as homogeneous polypeptides. Electrophoresis of both actins in the presence of urea and SDS, however, reveals that brain and muscle actins migrate with distinctly different mobilities. Actin from embryonic thigh muscle at different stages of development migrates as two separate components. In early muscle development, only the "brain" type actin is present. As muscle development progresses the "muscle" type actin becomes relatively more abundant, so that by day 20 of embryonic development, "muscle" actin becomes predominant. These results may be interpreted as due to differences in the primary structure of actin.

Cell surface myosin in cultured fibroblasts

The surface components of L-929 mouse fibroblast cells in monolayer culture have been labeled with 125I by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination procedure. One of the membrane proteins iodinated has been shown to be myosin as follows: it has the same electrophoretic mobility (molecular weight 200,000 daltons) as myosin heavy chain on sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gels and the labeled myosin is specifically precipitated by fibroblast myosin antiserum from a preparation of purified plasma membrane that have been solubilized by treatment with 1% Triton X-100. One other 125I-labeled membranes protein (molecular weight 210, 000 daltons) is precipitated along with myosin; the latter does not combine directly with antimyosin antibody. This was determined by reacting polyacrylamide gels containing the separated membrane proteins with fibroblast myosin antiserum; myosin was the only membrane protein reacting with the antibody as determined by two separate methods. Membrane myosin is not labeled when the cells are grown in 14C-D-glucosamine or treated with galactose oxidase and potassium borotritide. Thus membrane myosin is probably not a glycoprotein.

Form and distribution of actin and myosin in non-muscle cells: a study using cultured chick embryo fibroblasts

Attempting to throw light on the mechanical basis of movement of non-muscle (cf. muscle) cells, the present work aims to determine the form and distribution of actin and myosin in chick embryo fibroblasts. These cells were cultured on formvar, fixed in glutaraldehyde then osmium tetroxide vapours, dehydrated, critical-point dried and examined, in toto, in the electron microscope (EM). Stereoscopic pairs of micrographs were studied to define more exactly the form and distribution of cytoplasmic filaments topographically associated with deformations of the cell surface and with organelle movements through the cytoplasm. Permeating the cytoplasm, interconnecting long and short filaments closely surrounded all organelles, linked with microtubules and polyribosomes and joined to the plasma membrane. These filaments, which varied greatly in width (2-13 nm) were closely associated with large numbers of 'comma-shaped' globoid bodies of approximately 15 nm diameter. Attempting to establish the identity, form and distribution of cytoplasmic myosin, cultured cells were extracted with a cold (4 degrees C) glycerol/pyrophosphate solution for 24 h before being fixed and critical-point dried. EM examination of these cells revealed a residual three-dimensional network of branching and anastomosing 4-13 nm diameter smooth filaments, devoid of fine (2 nm) filaments and globoid bodies. Examination of fixed, critical-point dried, skeletal muscle heavy meromyosin showed globoid structures similar in form and size to the globoid bodies found in cultures fibroblasts. Similarly fixed and critical-point dried paracrystals of actin, polymerized in the presence of Mg2+, appeared as branching interconnecting filaments which, in form and dimensions, resembled the network filaments observed in pyrophosphate-extracted cells. It is concluded that the pyrophosphate-extractable globoid bodies found in cultured fibroblasts represent monomers of myosin, that the broader filaments to which these attach represent actin in Mg2+ paracrystalline form and that the various subcellular movements are brought about by interactions between the two, analogous to those occurring in muscle cells.

Chick cytoplasmic actin and muscle actin have different structural genes

Actins isolated from embryonic chick brain and muscle differ in mobility when subjected to electrophoresis in gels containing urea and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Experiments were carried out to determine whether these actins are products of different structural genes and differ in primary amino acid sequence, or whether they are products of the same structural gene but are different because of post-translational modification. Messenger RNA from brain and muscle tissue was used to direct cell-free protein synthesis in wheat germ extracts. The synthesized actins were identified by conversion from globular to fibrous actin and by two-dimensional chromatographic analysis of tryptic peptides. The differences in electrophoretic mobility of brain compared to muscle actin were maintained in the cell-free protein synthetic products. Therefore, these mobility differences were not due to post-translational modification. It was concluded that brain and muscle actin are coded by different messenger RNAs and therefore arise from different structural genes. In addition, messenger RNA from 13- and 16-day embryonic thigh muscle directed the synthesis of both brain- and muscle-type actins, suggesting that muscle cell differentiation involves the regulation of at least two different actin genes.

Protein synthesis and actin heterogeneity in calf muscle cells in culture

Pulse-labeled cytoplasmic proteins from cultured fetal calf-muscle cells at various stages of development were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The high resolution of the two-dimensional technique allows the determination of those protein species that begin to be synthesized after cell fusion. In addition, actin has been found to exist in three forms possessing similar biochemical properties and identical molecular weights but having slightly different isoelectric points. Two of the forms are found in prefusion dividing myoblasts and also in cultured kidney cells. The third form is the only one found in fetal muscle tissue and is predominant in cultures of fused muscle cells. Thus, it would seem that actin can exist in several isozymic forms of which one is specific to fused muscle tissue.

Isolation and characterization of myosin from cloned rat glioma and mouse neuroblastoma cells

Myosin has been isolated from the clonal lines of murine neuroblastoma and rat glioma cells. Partial characterization of the two cellular myosins indicates that both possess the following properties: (1) the same elution position as rabbit skeletal muscle myosin by Sepharose 4B chromatography; (2) the presence of heavy (molecular weight about 200,000) and light subunit polypeptides by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; (3) EDTA and Ca2+ activated but Mg2+-inhibited ATPase activity in 0.6 M KCl; and (4) binding to rabbit skeletal muscle F-actin which is inhibited by Mg2+-ATP. For both mouse neuroblastoma and rat glioma cells, approximately 0.5-1.5% of the total cell protein is present as myosin. Cellular myosin appears to be indistinguishable in quantity and biochemical properties regardless of whether it is isolated from monolayer or suspension neuroblastoma cells.

Effect of cytochalasin B on formation and properties of muscle F-actin

Cytochalasin B stimulated polymerization and decreased the concentration of G-actin remaining in equilibrium with F-actin filaments. Polymerization in the presence of cytochalasin B gave rise to a smaller increase of viscosity but to the same increase in light scattering, compared to polymerization in the absence of cytochalasin B. Cytochalasin B reduced the viscosity of F-actin and caused the appearance of ATP hydrolysis by F-actin. The cytochalasin B-induced ATPase activity was inhibited by concentrations of KCl higher than 50 mM. The cytochalasin B-induced ATPase activity was enhanced by ethyleneglycol bis(alpha-aminoethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid and reduced by MgCl2 at concentrations higher than 0.75 mM. The findings suggest that the stability of actin filaments is reduced by cytochalasin B.

Classification of smooth muscle autoantibodies detected by immunofluorescence

Three hundred and twelve sera containing antibodies to smooth muscle (SMA) wer analysed for the immunofluorescence patterns they produced in various tissues. A classification is described based on the three main appearances in rat kidney. Some sera, mainly of low titre, reacted only with vessel walls (SMA-V), some stained vessels and renal glomeruli (SMA-G) and high titre sera, mainly from patients with chronic active hepatitis stained vessels, glomeruli, and intracellular fibrils in renal tubules (SMA-T). Peripheral staining in hepatocytes or thyroid cells was not a regular feature. 41/43 polyclonal SMA-T and -G sera were absorbed out completely by actin, and this also removed the pericullular staining in liver and thyroid when present. High titre SMA-V antibodies could not be absorbed by actin, and the antigen remains to be identified.

The actin of muscle and fibroblasts

The isolation and quantification of an 18-residue peptide from the N-terminal region of chicken actin was used to quantify the amount of actin in acetone-dried powders of chicken breast muscle and chicken-embryo fibroblasts. Either isotope dilution or double labelling can be used for peptide quantification. About 17% of the protein of chicken breast muscle was estimated to be actin. However, only 0.25% of the protein of chicken-embryo fibroblasts was determined to be actin by quantification of this peptide. The actin content of fibroblasts may be low or the amino acid sequences of muscle and fibroblast actin may differ in the N-terminal region. The methodology used can be extended to examine whether other regions of muscle actin sequence are present in fibroblasts or other cell types.

The polymerization of actin. II. How nonfilamentous actin becomes nonrandomly distributed in sperm: evidence for the association of this actin with membranes

At an early stage in spermiogenesis the acrosomal vacuole and other organelles including ribosomes are located at the basal end of the cell. From here actin must be transported to its future location at the anterior end of the cell. At no stage, in the accumulation of actin in the periacrosomal region is the actin sequested in a membrane-bounded compartment such as a vacuole or vesicle. Since filaments are not present in the periacrsomoal region during the accumulation of the actin even though the fixation of these cells is sufficiently good to distinguish actin filaments in thin section, the actin must accumulate in the nonfilamentous state.

Electron microscopy of myosin molecules from muscle and non-muscle sources

Myosin molecules from adult and embryonic vertebrate skeletal muscle, vertebrate cardiac muscle, vertebrate smooth muscle, invertebrate muscle, blood platelets and brain have been examined by a modification of Hall’s mica-replication technique in which droplets of myosin in ammonium formate and glycerol solution are sprayed on a mica substrate at low temperature and then dried in vacuum prior to uni-directional shadowing with platinum. Myosin molecules from all these sources are morphologically indistinguishable and have two globular heads joined to a tail whose length does not differ by more than 10 nm from species to species. The absolute value of the tail length is 150 ± 20 nm (a larger error is given because of the difficulty in defining the point where the tail divides to give the two heads).

Cleavage of thrombosthenin A by thrombin. Evidence for the existence of two types of bovine platelet actin

Bovin platelet actin prepared by Spudich's method (Spudich, J. A. (1972) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 27, 585-594) separated into two peaks on a Sephadex G-200 column. The actin of both peaks had a mol. wt. of 42 000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel and activated myosin ATPase, although in a quantitatively different manner. Actin eluted in the first peak (probably an oligomeric form) was not polymerized in 2 mM MgCl2 and 0.05 M KCl, while that of the second peak went through normal G-F transformation. If CaATP was present in the incubation mixture neither actin was attacked by thrombin. However, if EDTA was added, thrombin split G-actins and the pattern of cleavage was the same as that found for muscle actin in our earlier studies, i.e. the final split products were two actinopeptides and two larger fragments of 26 500 and 11 000 daltons. It is suggested that the possible attraction of membrane-associated platelet actin for thrombin may have an importance in thrombin-induced platelet aggregation.

The role of actin in the temperature-dependent gelation and contraction of extracts of Acanthamoeba

The temperature-dependent assembly and the interaction of Acanthamoeba contractile proteins have been studied in a crude extract. A cold extract of soluble proteins from Acanthamoeba castellanii is prepared by homogenizing the cells in a sucrose-ATP-ethyleneglycol-bis-(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N'-tetraacetic acid buffer and centrifuging at 136,000 g for 1 h. When this supernate of soluble proteins is warmed to room temperature, it forms a solid gel. Upon standing at room temperature, the gel slowly contracts and squeezes out soluble components. The rates of gelation and contraction are both highly temperature dependent, with activation energies of about 20 kcal per mol. Gel formation is dependent upon the presence of ATP and Mg++. Low concentrations of Ca++ accelerate the contractile phase of this phenomenon. The major protein component of the gel is actin. It is associated with myosin, cofactor, a high molecular weight protein tentatively identfied as actin-binding protein, and several other unidentified proteins. Actin has been purified from these gels and was found to be capable of forming a solid gel when polymerized in the presence of ATP, MgCl3, and KCL. The rate of purified actin polymerication is very temperature dependent and is accelerated by the addition of fragments of muscle actin filaments. These data suggest that Acanthamoeba contractile proteins have a dual role in the cell; they may generate the forces for cellular movements and also act as cytoskeletal elements by controlling the consistency of the cytoplasm.