A Comparison of Cortical Proteins in Tetrahymena vorax Microstomes and Macrostomes

Proteins of surface membranes and surface-related cytoskeletons in Tetrahymena vorax microstomes and macrostomes were compared by one-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to see if protein differences could be detected that correlate with the transformation from one phenotype to the other. Some differences were observed. However, these alterations appear to result from the heat-shock procedure used to synchronize the microstome-to-macrostome transition. The apparent lack of transformation-specific changes in cortical proteins is discussed. Similarities and differences between cytoskeletal proteins of T. pyriformis GL-C and T. vorax are also noted and discussed.