Intersyngenic variations in the esterases and acid phosphatases of Tetrahymena pyriformis

Abstract

The esterase and acid phosphatase isozymes were surveyed in strains of syngens 2–12 under conditions found to be optimal for syngen 1. Both intersyngenic and intrasyngenic variations were found. Comparisons of the esterases suggest that homologous enzymes are present in certain syngens and that some ordering of the variations with respect to syngen differences is possible. The acid phosphatases are highly polymorphic in different strains even within a syngen, and the variations cannot be ordered with respect to syngen differences. These results are discussed in terms of other types of studies directed at assessing syngen relationships and in terms of the sources of variation. It was concluded that only characters less vulnerable to intra clonal variation will be capable of revealing syngen relationships.