Biosynthesis and release of cell wall-like glycoproteins during the vegetative cell cycle of Chlamydomonas reinhardii.

The culture medium of asynchronously growing Chlamydomonas reinhardii cells contains distinct proteins which are derived from the cell walls of these cells. When cultures are synchronized by a light-dark cycle cell wall proteins are synthesized throughout the cycle, but the release of these proteins into the culture medium occurs primarily in the last quarter of the cycle, after cell separation has occurred. The mutant CW-2, which does not form a normal cell wall, continuously synthesizes and secretes cell wall proteins into the culture medium. The synthesis of cell wall protein during the cell cycle appears to be modulated and peaks of synthesis occur at the end of the light period and in the second half of the dark period, shortly after cell separation. At these times the cells devote 15% of their protein-synthetic capacity to making cell wall proteins.