Relative potencies of different cytochalasins for the inhibition of phagocytosis in ciliates

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1998

Abstract

Ciliate actins have been reported to exhibit an unusual degree of sequence divergence, within the phylum Ciliophora, and when compared to actins from other organisms. To determine whether these primary structural differences are correlated with pharmacological differences, we investigated the effects of seven cytochalasins on phagocytosis, which has been shown to be actindependent in eukaryotic cells. The relative potencies of cytochalasin inhibition of phagocytosis in Spirostomun ambiguum and Paramecium multimicronucleatum were similar. Dihydrocytochalasin B and cytochalasin A were the most potent of the seven cytochalasins in both ciliates, and strongly inhibited phagocytosis at 20-40 μM. Dihydrocytochalasin B was considerably more potent than either cytochalasins B or D, a result unexpected on the basis of reports utilizing other organisms. However, even at concentrations up to 100 μM, dihydrocytochalasin B did not inhibit the rate of Spirostomum defecation. After long-term treatment of Spirostomum with 50 μM dihydrocytochalasin B, the sensitivity of phagocytosis to the drug was reduced. These results indicate that the relative cytochalasin sensitivities of actin-dependent functions in ciliates differ from those of other organisms, and are consistent with the hypothesis that sequence differences might give rise to substantial differences in the pharmacological properties of ciliate actins.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology

Volume

45

Issue

4

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