Changes in Two Acid Hydrolase Levels During Cyst Differentiation of a Ciliate, Histriculus muscorum1

Abstract

ABSTRACTCellular levels of protein and two acid hydrolases, acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) and acid proteinase, were followed during cyst differentiation, arbitrarily divided into five stages, in the ciliate Histriculus muscorum Kahl. Extracellular enzyme activities were also measured. Protein content decreased gradually during cyst differentiation. In mature cysts the protein content was ca. 60% that of stationary phase organisms. The activities of both acid hydrolases remained unchanged during stage 1 and then decreased gradually; acid proteinase decreased more rapidly. Both enzymes remained slightly active in the mature cysts. The acid proteinase activity of stage 1 was reduced by cycloheximide treatment at time zero, whereas the enzyme was no longer sensitive to the inhibitor when treated at 1.5 h (late stage 1) after the first wash with encysting medium. Acid phosphatase activity was insensitive to the inhibitor. Extracellular release of acid phosphatase increased linearly at least until stage 5, although the extracellular release of acid proteinase was not detected. Cycloheximide blocked the extracellular release of acid phosphatase after stage 1. These results suggest that de novo synthesis of acid proteinase occurs during stage 1 and that lysosomes may play an important role during early stages of cyst differentiation.