Biomaterial Database

[Effects of methyl mercuric chloride on growth inhibition and the cell membrane of Tetrahymena]. 1994

M Fukuda

Osaka City Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences, Japan.

The effects of methylmercuric chloride (MMC) on the growth and cell membrane of the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis GL were studied. The compositions of fatty acids in the cell membrane lipids, which were extracted from cells cultured in medium containing MMC at 30 and 20 degrees C, were examined. As compared with control cells, 30 degrees C-cells were richer in saturated fatty acids than 20 degrees C-cell, indicating that the cell membrane of 30 degrees C-cells was rigid and that that of 20 degrees C-cells was mobile. When MMC was added to the culture media, the amount of unsaturated fatty acid in the cell membrane tended to decrease, resulting in an increase of rigidity of the cell membrane. When ergosterol was added to the media, the cell membrane became more rigid, and lipids were richer in saturated fatty acids. Ergosterol contributed to reduce the composition change due to addition of MMC to the media.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008563	Membrane Lipids	Lipids, predominantly phospholipids, cholesterol and small amounts of glycolipids found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. These lipids may be arranged in bilayers in the membranes with integral proteins between the layers and peripheral proteins attached to the outside. Membrane lipids are required for active transport, several enzymatic activities and membrane formation.	Cell Membrane Lipid,Cell Membrane Lipids,Membrane Lipid,Lipid, Cell Membrane,Lipid, Membrane,Lipids, Cell Membrane,Lipids, Membrane,Membrane Lipid, Cell,Membrane Lipids, Cell
D008767	Methylmercury Compounds	Organic compounds in which mercury is attached to a methyl group.	Methyl Mercury Compounds,Compounds, Methyl Mercury,Compounds, Methylmercury,Mercury Compounds, Methyl
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D005227	Fatty Acids	Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013769	Tetrahymena pyriformis	A species of ciliate protozoa used extensively in genetic research.	Tetrahymena pyriformi,pyriformi, Tetrahymena