Studies on Pogonophora

Abstract

1. The oxygen consumption of S. ekmani at 5° C is 0.06 µl./mg./hr. 2. Phenylalanine and glycine are concentrated by S. ekmani. The concentration factor reaches a maximum after 30 min. in animals removed from their tubes. In animals inside their tubes, the rate of uptake is limited by the rate of diffusion through the walls of the tube. The phenylalanine does not move appreciably into the alcohol-insoluble extract of the animals over a period of 1 hr. 3. Protein is taken up by S. ekmani when animals are removed from their tubes. Uptake is slower than uptake of amino acids, and may involve a different mechanism. 4. Autoradiography using S. mergophorum shows that phenylalanine is not adsorbed on the cuticle. It is found especially in secretory cells, within which it is localized over rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi regions and secretion spherules. 5. The site and mechanism of uptake of organic molecules are discussed; and the types of molecules absorbed, together with the significance these may have in the overall metabolism, are considered.