Pinocytosis and locomotion of amoebae

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Abstract
The dynamics of Ca++ during induced pinocytosis were studied in Amoeba proteus using chlorotetracycline (CTC). The fluorescence of the Ca++ -CTC-complex was monitored by an image intensification system, which has certain advantages over standard equipment: (1) Living cells are not subjected to the damaging influence of intensive microscopic illumination, (2) fluorescent probes are not bleached during observation, and (3) the rapid dynamics of Ca++-fluxes can be recorded using short exposure times. The results demonstrate the existence of Ca++ bound to intracellular and extracellular sites of the cell membrane complex in normal locomoting and pinocytoting Amoeba proteus. The application of cations inducing pinocytosis causes a rapid decrease in the external CTC-fluorescence probably due to a release of Ca++ from the mucous layer. The degree of fluorescence intensity is correlated with the capacity of pinocytotic channel formation, i.e., the fluorescence decreases as the number of channels increases. During the phase of vesiculation a distinct fluorescence mainly restricted to the basal region of the channels is observed. Intracellular Ca++ was detected in close vicinity to the plasma membrane after both microinjection and external application of CTC. The internal CTC-fluorescence is slightly decreased during the induction phase of pinocytosis. The observations are in good agreement with previous results on the localization of Ca++-binding sites at the plasma membrane of Amoeba proteus and demonstrate the important role of Ca++-fluxes for the process of pinocytosis.

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