Properties of microtubule proteins in different organelles in Tetrahymena pyriformis

Attempts were made to elucidate whether or not microtubules within cilia, oral apparatus and macronuclei in Tetrahymena pyriformis include common proteins, by making use of antiserum to microtubule proteins of cilia. The microtubule fraction containing two protein components was used as antigen and the antiserum to the microtubule proteins was proved to be specific by analysing electrophoretic patterns in the antigen absorption experiments. The antiserum reacted with the dissolved proteins of isolated oral apparatus or macronuclei, forming precipitin lines common to those of cilia. Furthermore, the two organelles were positively stained with the fluorescein-labelled antiserum. These results offered important clues to understand multifariousness in function and behavior of morphologically identical microtubules; that is, various microtubules in the cell appear to include a common protein(s) one another.