Cyclic Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate Binding Protein inTetrahymena: Properties and Subcellular Distribution1

Oxytocin and vasopressin change the activity of the contractile vacuole in tetrahymena: Newer contributions to the phylogeny of hormones and hormone receptors

1. Primary interaction with oxytocin accounted for a significant prolongation of the time interval between two systolic contractions of the contractile vacuole in Tetrahymena, whereas primary interaction with vasopressin had no appreciable influence on that functional parameter. 2. Primary treatment (imprinting) with vasopressin increased sensitivity to vasopressin and reduced responsiveness to oxytocin. 3. Primary treatment (imprinting) with oxytocin did not increase cellular response either to oxytocin or to vasopressin on second exposure. 4. Oxytocin, which is chemically related to the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin, influences the water metabolism in protozoa; vasopressin develops a similar effect after imprinting. 5. The experimental observations allow conclusions on certain events involved in the phylogenesis of hormones and receptors.

Growth-dependent changes of guanylate and adenylate cyclase activities in cilia and cell bodies of Tetrahymena pyriformis

The calmodulin-dependent guanylate cyclase of Tetrahymena pyriformis was shown previously to be localized in surface membranes (ciliary and pellicular membranes) (Kudo, S, Nakazawa, K, Nagao, S & Nozawa, Y, Japan j exp med 52 (1952) 193) [21], whereas in a recent report Schultz et al, (Schultz, J E, Schonefeld, U & Klumpp, S, Eur j biochem 137 (1983) 89) [12] demonstrated the localization of this enzyme in ciliary membrane, arguing against its presence in pellicular membrane. To examine the discrepancy, the activities of guanylate and adenylate cyclases were examined in cilia and cell bodies of Tetrahymena pyriformis during transition from early log to stationary growth phase. The guanylate cyclase activity in the cell bodies increased significantly with growth of age, while in cilia the activity was rather consistent. In contrast, adenylate cyclase did not show any growth-dependent activity changes in both cilia and cell bodies. The increase of guanylate cyclase activity was not related to the increase of its activator calmodulin, because the change in enzyme activity could not be negated by addition of a saturating amount of calmodulin. These results suggest that the content of guanylate cyclase itself would be increased in the cell bodies during growth.