Acid phosphatase activity in mating type I and mating type II cell lines of Paramecium primaurelia

The cellular acid phosphatase content, a marker enzyme for lysosomal activity, in Paramecium primaurelia mating type I and mating type II cells was determined by optical laser scanning microscopy. The naphthol AS-TR phosphatase-hexazotized pararosaniline method was used to visualize acid phosphatase activity by the light microscopy. Cell lines of both mating types were tested during culture life, from the early log phase to the death phase. The amount of acid phosphatase was higher in mating type II than in mating type I until the onset of the stationary phase, and then the values reversed. Indeed, during the log phase of growth, mating type II cells formed a higher number of food vacuoles, so that, by taking up a higher amount of bacteria, they sooner became deprived of food. It is suggested that, by lacking nutrients, their synthesis activities and acid phosphatase content were reduced as compared with mating type I cells.