SYNTHESIS OF DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID BY MICRO- AND MACRONUCLEI OF TETRAHYMENA PYRIFORMIS

Evidence as to the times of DNA synthesis in micronucleate Tetrahymena pyriformis (mating type II, variety 1) has been obtained by briefly exposing individuals of different ages to tritiated thymidine, returning them to non-radioactive medium, fixing at division, and preparing autoradiographs. A variable length of interphase, ranging from a few minutes to about 2 hours, has been found to precede the initiation of macronuclear DNA synthesis. Once begun, however, the period of synthesis appears to be similar in all cells, regardless of generation time, and has been estimated at 1 to 1½ hours. Under the conditions of these experiments, the time elapsing between the end of synthesis and subsequent division into daughter cells ranges from approximately 1½ to 2½ hours in generation times long enough to allow such variability. Division of the micronucleus occurs shortly before the cell begins to divide; its DNA synthesis starts immediately and continues after cell division for a total period estimated at about an hour.