The effect of enucleation on the DPN level of ameba

Abstract

1. Amebae contain DPN at levels of from 1 to 4 x 10(-13) moles per cell. 2. Following enucleation, nucleate and enucleate halves continue to have equal DPN contents over the six day period studied. Similarly, starving whole amebae maintain their DPN level over this period. 3. No reduced DPN could be detected in these aerobic animals. This remained true for whole amebae and for nucleate and enucleate halves over 5 days of starvation. 4. A method is described for the preparation and rapid separation of nucleate and enucleate ameba halves, based on a response of amebae to light.