Abstract: | Adenylate cyclase of the sea anemoneAnthopleura elegantissima was found to be associated with the heavy particulate fraction of the cell and to be activated by NaF and 2-mercaptoethanol. Reduced glutathione, which elicits the ciliary swallowing response during feeding, also activated adenylate cyclase in particles from the oral disc and pharynx. The GSH effect was dependent on homogenization procedure, whereas the NaF and 2-mercaptoethanol activation was not. The activation of adenylate cyclase from the oral disc and pharynx by GSH was correlated with increased Ca2+ binding to the particulate fraction. When activation by GSH was abolished by mechanical homogenization, no increasea in Ca2+ binding was observed in the presence of GSH. It is suggested that chemoreception for the swallowing response of this organism is mediated by cyclic AMP control of Ca2+ distribution in the cell. |