THE CYTONUCLEOPROTEINS OF AMEBAE

Abstract

Radioactivity, apparently in cytonucleoproteins, from an amino acid-labeled nucleus implanted into a non-radioactive cell appeared in the host nucleus within 10 minutes, and the typical equilibrium ratio 70:30 donor nucleus radioactivity:host nucleus radioactivity was reached in 4 to 5 hours at 25°C. If such binucleates grew and divided, no localization of radioactivity was observable in cells fixed during mitosis, but the protein label remained concentrated in the daughter interphase nuclei for at least 4 generations. Continued migration of cytonucleoproteins was observed if these daughter nuclei were transplanted to other unlabeled cells. The Q10 (19° to 29°C) of the migration rate of radioactive cytonucleoproteins was ca. 1.3, suggesting that passage through the cytoplasm occurred by diffusion. Both non-migratory nuclear proteins and cytonucleoproteins appear to be synthesized in the cytoplasm.