Effects of surface-active alkyltrimethylammonium salts on concanavalin A-mediated agglutination in Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Pretreatment of Acanthamoeba castellanii (Neff strain) with sublytic concentrations of surface-active alkyltrimethylammonium salts (C12, C14, C16) enhanced ConA-mediated agglutination of the amoebae. Treatment with the surfactants alone did not affect the "spontaneous" agglutination of the amoebae. Electron microscopic (SEM and TEM) examinations of amoebae treated with sublytic concentrations of the surfactants did not reveal any significant alterations in cell shape or in cell surface morphology in treated cells. The binding of [3H]ConA to the amoebae was not affected by pretreatment with sublytic concentrations of the surfactants. It is suggested that the increase in ConA-mediated agglutination in surfactant-treated amoebae may be due to a fluidizing effect of the surfactants on plasma membrane of the amoebae. Part of the results of this work has previously been published in Eur. J. Cell Biol. 22, 210 (1980). (Abstract M 624).