The role of electrical fields, ions, and the cortex in the morphogenesis of Acetabularia

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Abstract
Electrophysiological and biochemical aspects of polarity determination and morphogenesis were studied in regenerating Acetabularia. The Ca++, Mg++ ionophore, A23187, reversibly inhibits the formation of apical structures (whorls and caps) but does not arrest longitudinal growth. This normal growth correlates with normal electrophysiology as reflected in an apico-basal electrical potential gradient and spontaneous recurrent action potentials which propagate from apex to base. However, the ionophore markedly elevates 32PO 3 3- incorporation into the cortical cytoplasm which is normally low apically and rises to a maximum at the base. A molecular model of membrane-dependent morphogenesis is suggested.

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