Necessity of protein synthesis for metamorphosis in the marine hydroidHydractinia echinata

In the marine colonial hydroidHydractinia echinata metamorphosis from the larval to the adult (polyp) stage is induced by various agents, including CsCI and dioctanoylglycerol (diC8). Induction is prevented when the inhibitors of protein synthesis cycloheximide or ementine were applied simultaneously with the metamorphosis-inducing agents. With diC8 treatment, the inhibitors caused most animals to transform into mosaics consisting of larval and polyp body parts instead of normal shaped polyps. In contrast, treatment with cycloheximide or ementine just before or after incubation with the metamorphosis-inducing agents did not prevent larvae from metamorphosis. No substantial quantitative changes in protein synthesis occur during induction of metamorphosis, however, the protein pattern is changed upon induction. The most prominent new polypeptides (25 and 73 kD) were observed when CsCI was used to trigger metamorphosis. In addition, both in CsCl- and in diC8-treated larvae, the synthesis of a new 23 kD protein occurred, whilst synthesis of others ceased (41 and 44 kD).