Cell surface interaction of the protozoan Gregarina with concanavalin A beads - implications for models of gregarine...

Con A Sepharose beads can be translocated over the surface of the protozoan Gregarina and in (forward) moving gregarines, the bead may be moved backwards relative to the substrate. The speed of bead movement is not constant over the surface of the cell, but has a maximum value in the central region of the deutomerite. The mass of the individual beads used in this study was about the same order of magnitude as the mass of a gregarine, i.e. considerable force must be generated at the gregarine cell surface. The implications of these experiments to models of gregarine locomotion are considered. The close similarities between this system and flagellar surface motility of Clamydomonas studied by particle movement and gliding motility are discussed.