A NOVEL KIND OF POLYANIONS AS PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS OF CNIDARIAN NEMATOCYSTS

1. Intact nematocysts (capsules of stinging cells) from eight representative species of Cnidaria have been purified and isolated. 2. All of the more than 20 different nematocysts primarily contained large concentrations of soluble polyanions. 3. Most, if not all of these polyanions are poly(gamma-glutamic acid)s of variable polymer grade. 4. It is suggested that these polymers which are unique for eukaryotes may occur generally in cnidarian species and that they are crucially involved in the process of nematocyst discharge. 5. The question arises whether evolutionary links between poly(gamma-glutamic acid)s-synthesizing bacteria and cnidarian nematocysts exist.