Effect of proteolytic enzymes on 1-methyladenine production in starfish follicle cells.

Abstract

Abstract The brief treatment of starfish follicle cells with trypsin (0.1%, 20 min) or Pronase (0.01%, 20–40 min) prevented the production of 1-methyladenine (1-MeAde) induced by a gonad-stimulating substance (GSS), suggesting that the GSS receptor is a protein which is located on the cell surface. On the other hand, prolonged treatment of follicle cells with trypsin (0.1%, 1 hr) or Pronase (0.01%, 1–2 hr) was found to induce 1-MeAde production even in the absence of GSS. When the follicle cells were washed with Ca-free seawater (CaFSW) or EGTA-CaFSW before the enzyme treatment, the protease-induced 1-MeAde production decreased to a large degree. The production of 1-MeAde induced by GSS or Con A was also reduced by such washing.