Synthesis of RNA,Protein, Cellulose,and Mucopolysaccharide and Changes in the Chemical Composition of Hartmannella culbertsoni During Encystment under Axenic Conditions*
Hartmannella culbertsoni trophozoites are transformed into viable cysts on exposure to a non-nutrient agar medium containing 15 mM MgCl2 and 20 mM taurine. Amebae differentiating in this encystment medium incorporate more uracil-2-14C into RNA and more leucine-1-14C or valine-1-14C into proteins than controls. Encysting organisms incorporate significantly more glucose-U-14C into cellulose and glucosamine-1-14C into mucopolysaccharides. Incorporation of glucose-U-14C into cellulose and of glucosamine-1-14C into mucopolysaccharides are inhibited by actinomycin D or cycloheximide.