Role of zinc in cell division of Euglena gracilis

Euglena gracilis is a suitable model system to investigate the role of zinc in the process of cell division. In zinc-deficient organisms there is a characteristic arrest of cellular proliferation, the DNA content of the cells doubles, whereas RNA and protein contents decrease. The present investigations include the growth characteristics, changes in cellular morphology at various stages in the growth cycle, quantitation of zinc uptake and incorporation of tritium-labelled precursors into RNA by organisms grown in zinc sufficient (Zn+), (Zn2+ content 1 times 10-minus 5 M) or zinc-deficient (Zn minus), (Zn2+ content 1 times 10-7 M) medium. Cell division ceases on depletion of zinc from the medium. There are 20-fold less cells in (Zn minus) medium than in control cultures. The size of (Zn+) cells decreases during log phase due to a reduction in the paramylon content of the cytoplasm. The size of (Zn minus) cells, however, increases, due to an accumulation of paramylon. This results in a 13-fold increment in dry weight compared to control. Other cytoplasmic organelles, including Golgi bodies, mitochondria, etc. are normal. Nuclear morphology also is unchanged. There is a reduction in the rate of incorporation of labelled precursors into RNA by (Zn minus) cells. The DNA content of (Zn minus) E. gracilis, the absence of morphologic evidence to indicate that cell division has followed the doubling of the DNA, and the arrest in proliferation suggests that a critical zinc-dependent step in the cell cycle, localized to G2, is blocked in zinc deficiency.