Chemotactic selection of Tetrahymena pyriformis GL induced with histamine, di-iodotyrosine or insulin

L. Kőhidai, N. Schiess, G. Csaba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been hypothesized that in phylogeny the encounter between potential signalling molecules and the continously changing cell membrane could result in the formation of a ligand specific receptor. This chemical (hormonal) imprinting is then transmitted to the progeny generations. It is, however, very difficult to know whether the selection of cells with receptor- like patterns or amplification of complete receptor-like patterns led to the formation of the receptor-hormone complex. The new technique of ଀chemotactic selectionଁ provides a physiological response-guided selection of cells. It also enables the testing of subpopulations with the characteristic selector ligand. We show here that of three chemotactic ligands (histamine, di- iodotyrosine (T2) and human insulin), insulin and T2 selected subpopulations express a significantly high chemotactic response. Since the control medium has a selector capacity itself, we introduced a chemotactic selection coefficient (Chsel) which facilitates the comparison of all groups. Using this factor we found that insulin (Chsel = 1.57), functions as a strong selector and T2 (Chsel = 0.98), was a weak selector. Morphometric evaluation of the cells showed a good correlation between chemotactic responsiveness and morphometric characteristics of subpopulations selected with insulin and histamine. T2 data suggest that the long lasting responsiveness is not general, but might be subpopulation specific.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - C Pharmacology Toxicology and Endocrinology
Volume126
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chemotactic selection
  • Evolution
  • Hormonal imprinting
  • Hormones
  • Morphometry
  • Signaling
  • Tetrahymena

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

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