BINDING OF CONCANAVALIN A TO THE SURFACE OF STARFISH FOLLICLE CELLS AND PRODUCTION OF 1-METHYLADENINE

Starfish follicle cells, treated with concanavalin A (Con A), continued to produce 1-methyl-adenine (1-MeAde), an inducer of starfish oocyte maturation, after rinsing with artificial seawater (ASW). On the other hand, they ceased to produce the substance if treated with methyl α-Dmannoside (αMM). These cells produced again 1-MeAde when re-stimulated with Con A after removal of αMM. An optical study with fluorescein revealed that Con A bound to the cells was not dissociated by rinsing with ASW, but was removed if the cells were treated with αMM. These results suggest that continuous binding of Con A to the surface of the follicle cells is essential for the production of 1-MeAde.