Magnetic purification of mating Tetrahymena

Abstract

The ability to ingest particles is lost during conjugation in the ciliate Tetrahymena. Since ingestion does not resume until the late stages of development (several hours after pair separation), differential particle uptake can be exploited to isolate conjugating cells. A magnetic separation method is presented which should be applicable to many cellular systems. Pure preparations of mating Tetrahymena make possible molecular studies on the development of this organism. © 1980 Carlsberg Laboratory.