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Cell-cell adhesion in conjugatingChlamydomonas gametes: a self-enhancing process

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Summary

The flagellar adhesiveness of gametes ofChlamydomonas eugametos increases during conjugation such that the cell-cell contacts are intensified. The rise in adhesiveness is due to an increase in agglutinin exposure which can be visualized by immunolabeling. The adhesiveness in the one cell is stimulated by the agglutinins of the adherent partner cell, and vice versa. Thus, sexual cell-cell adhesion is a self-enhancing process. In addition, it is shown that the gametes are able to activate potential partners at distance via agglutinin-rich vesicles which they shed into their environment.

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Abbreviations

GA:

glutaraldehyde

IA:

iso-agglutinin

Mab:

monoclonal antibody

Tris:

Tris-(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorium voor Plantenfysiologie, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam

    R. Demets, A. M. Tomson, W. L. Homan, D. Stegwee & H. van den Ende

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  1. R. Demets
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  2. A. M. Tomson
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  3. W. L. Homan
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  4. D. Stegwee
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  5. H. van den Ende
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Demets, R., Tomson, A.M., Homan, W.L. et al. Cell-cell adhesion in conjugatingChlamydomonas gametes: a self-enhancing process. Protoplasma 145, 27–36 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01323253

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01323253

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