Cytochemical Studies on the Central Body of the Cyanophyceae

Abstract

The nature of the central body of the Cyanophyceae has been studied cytochemically. Enzyme treatments, followed by histo-chemical tests and also the effects of certain chemicals on the central body were used to elucidate the nature of the proteins in it.The central body and cytoplasm give an intense positive test for tyrosine and arginine but give negative test for tryptophane. After peptic digestion the cell does not give positive test for arginine or tyrosine whereas the central body takes deeper stain with leucobasic fuchsin, suggesting the presence of histone.The central body remains intact even after extraction of nucleic acids with 5% TCA at 90°C for 15 minutes, but if this treatment is followed by peptic digestion for 10-12 hrs. the integrity of the central body is lost indi-cating the presence of characteristics similar to those of chromosomes.The effect of trypsin on the central body also substantiates the above finding. It is however observed that the presence of an electrolyte is essen-tial for the digestion of the cells.0.5M oxyquinoline solution is effective in scattering the chromatic threads in the central body. In Oscillatoria sp. the number of the chromatic threads can be counted.It is obvious from this study that at least the chromatic threads in the central body show characteristics, paralleled with those of chromosomes, so far as the protein-moiety is concerned,