Time and mode of synthesis of the sexual inducer glycoprotein of Volvox carteri

Abstract
The synthesis of the sex‐inducing glycoprotein of Volvox carteri was investigated. A highly specific antiserum directed against pheromone deglycos ylated with trifluoromethane sulphonic acid was used to detect inducer protein in maturing cultures of the male strain IPS‐22. Immunoblot analysi showed that inducer synthesis is restricted to a very late phase of sperm development, a few hours before the sperm cells die. The pheromonc is co‐translationally glycosylated to yield a well‐defined pattern of isoinducers.