The lack of effect of tunicamycin on cilia regeneration in [formula omitted

Abstract

Tetrahymena pyriformis cultures were starved, deciliated and incubated in a reciliation medium in the presence and absence of tunicamycin. This antibiotic was shown to have no effect on the rate of reciliation or the appearance of the organisms even when present in relatively large amounts, although cell division was blocked. A small inhibition of protein synthesis was noted in the presence of tunicamycin, but mannose incorporation was totally abolished. It was concluded that the reciliation of these organisms takes place by a mechanism that does not require the de novo synthesis of glycoprotein.