Change in ATP-pyrophosphohydrolase activity during spherule formation of Physarum polycephalum.

The activity of Ca2+-dependent ATP pyrophosphohydrolase was found to fluctuate during spherule formation of the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum under starving incubation. The enzyme activity increased up to 16-fold at the 3rd day of the starvation, then decreased drastically to less than its original level. Column chromatography of the enzyme preparation suggested that the increase in the activity was due to de novo synthesis of a new isozyme. Cycloheximide inhibited the synthesis. The two isozymes were different in their Ca2+ sensitivity, the new one being less sensitive.