Surface coat shedding and axopodial movements in Actinophrys sol

Dyes specific to the glycoproteins of the mucous coat (Alcian Blue and Ruthenium Red) and ligands cross-linking the surface receptors (γ-globulin and Concanavalin A) provoke detachment of the surface coat and shedding of mucus conglomerates outwards along axopodia in Actinophrys sol. Moreover, the two receptor-specific ligands induce rearrangement of axopodia into unipolar fan-like bundles. They arise by inclination of axopodia in one direction, usually before shedding of the surface coat. Then, the mucus is unidirectionally evacuated along the bundles. The coordinated polar reorientation of axopodia is faster than any other axopodial movement and manifests the dynamics of an active behaviour. However, its mechanism remains conjectural.