Cyclic changes of concanavalin-A binding sites in Tetrahymena cell membrane

Tetrahymena pyriformis GL cells were incubated with Con-A and HRP to demonstrate the localization of cell membrane sugar-components. Membrane sugar-components were found to be mobile and to change their localization periodically during the cell cycle. Highest Con-A binding occurred during division at the transition between G1 and S phases. The cap formation shown by the sugar components is a physiological phenomenon in Tetrahymena occurring mostly periorally and to a lesser extent aborally.