Acid phosphatase activity in Perkinsus marinus, the protistan parasite of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica.

A K Volety, F L Chu

Index: J. Parasitol. 83(6) , 1093-8, (1997)

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Abstract

The effect of temperature (4, 12, 20, and 28 C) and osmolality (400, 570, and 840 mOsm/kg) on extracellular acid phosphatase (AP) secretion in vitro, and ultrastructural localization of AP activity in the parasite were investigated. The extracellular AP secretion by Perkinsus marinus was cell density dependent (P < 0.001). Increasing culture temperatures resulted in increased P. marinus proliferation concomitant with AP secretion (P < 0.0001). AP secretion was similar in P. marinus cultured at 400 and 570 mOsm/kg media, but higher than P. marinus cultured at 870 mOsm/kg media. Results of the ultrastructural study revealed that intense AP activity was in the nucleus of the parasite. Based on its distribution in the nucleus, AP may be playing a role in events leading to cell cycle regulation.