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TWO BIQURESExploratory studies (Lansing, Rosenthal and Kamen, '49) have indicated a n association between a ribonucleoprotein complex and the cell surface. Neuberg and Roberts ('49) have proposed a mechanism for the transport of insoluble inorganic compounds from the soil into roots based upon the remarkable powers of nucleic acids and their derivatives to form complexes with other substances. It occurred to us that a process similar to that described by Neuberg and Roberts could transport ionizable materials through the cell membrane. This investigation had two primary objectives ; to demonstrate by a histochemical method that a thin layer of ribonucleic acid occurs a t the cell surface and to measure the influence of such surface ribonucleic acid on the uptake of ions from the extra-cellular milieu.F o r the histochemical localization of ribonucleic acid the eggs of Arbacia constituted favorable material. The distribution of hasopliilic material, before and after exposwe to ribonuclease in viva was the means of localizing R,NA. The uptake and retention of alkaline earth cations can be studied conveniently in the leaf cells of the fresh water plant, Elodeci caizadensis, since the vacuoles of these cells contain free oxalates. When alkaline earth cations a r e released from the cytoplasm by stimulation and diffuse into the vacuole, char-

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