Effects of age on fresh weight, proteins, peroxidases, and other enzymes of the +, -, and crossed gymnothecial cultures of Nannizzia gypsea.

Cultures of the + (UAMH 1485) and - (UAMH 1486) mating types of Nannizzia gypsea and their crosses (1485 x 1486) were analyzed, after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks growth, for fresh weight, proteins, peroxidases, esterases, acid- and alkaline-phosphatases. The + type produced slightly more growth at all periods (90, 131, 131, and 129 mg/plate) than the - mating type (90, 123, 121, and 108 mg/plate). The growth of the crosses was much less (30, 88, 83, and 94 mg/plate). Total soluble proteins per gram fresh weight was greater for the crosses (51, 33, 48, and 63 mg) than for the + (19, 32, 34, and 32 mg) and - (20, 33, 33, and 33 mg) strains. Disc-gel electrophoretic analyses revealed 6-9 protein bands in each of the mating types, and 7-8 bands (protein) in crosses, several of which showed mobility and stain uptake differences. There were 1-2 peroxidase bands in the +, -, and crosses; their patterns were generally the same in 1-week-old cultures, but slight differences were found at the subsequent harvests. The number of esterases in the +, -, and crosses was 3-4 and 2-3, respectively, but their patterns were similar. Acid- and alkaline-phosphatases of the + and -, and crosses were quite similar to one another. For all the enzymes studied, the number of bands increased after the first harvest in crosses, but in the single strains there was no constant pattern.