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Studies on the surface coat of Paramecium aurelia

I. Ruthenium red staining and enzyme treatment

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Summary

The plasma membrane of Paramecium aurelia is covered with a ruthenium red stainable surface coat. Results obtained after digestion with pronase, trypsin and neuraminidase suggest the glycoprotein nature of this structure. Lipid extraction also affects the surface coat forming material. The results are consistent with the model proposed by Ginsburg and Kobata dealing with spatial configuration of the surface coat components.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland

    Elżbieta Wyroba & Aleksandra Przełecka

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  1. Elżbieta Wyroba
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  2. Aleksandra Przełecka
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Additional information

Authors are grateful to Mrs. D. Kucharczyk for very efficient technical assistence, to Mrs. Z. Kaminska for sectioning the material and Mr. A. Renski for help with the electron microscope service.

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Wyroba, E., Przełecka, A. Studies on the surface coat of Paramecium aurelia . Z.Zellforsch 143, 343–353 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307420

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00307420

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