BAG CELL-SPECIFIC PROTEINS AND HUMORAL CONTROL OF EGG LAYING IN APLYSIA CALIFORNICA

1. 1. A gel electrophoresis analysis of water-soluble proteins in Aplysia californica revealed several nerve-specific proteins. 2. 2. One of these nerve-specific proteins was selected for more intensive study. This protein is located uniquely in the bag cell somas and the surrounding connective tissue sheath which contains the bag cell axons. 3. 3. The bag cell-specific protein was quickly destroyed by pronase, heat denatured and not detectably altered by DNase or RNase treatment. 4. 4. The neurosecretory nature of the bag cells and the significance of the bag cell-specific protein are discussed with relation to the humoral control of egg laying. 5. 5. The distribution of the active egg-laying agent is the same as that of the bag cell-specific protein. The active egg-laying agent was also destroyed by pronase and by heating. © 1969.