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Behavioural mutants of Paramecium caudatum with defective membrane electrogenesis

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Abstract

THE swimming behaviour of Paramecium is mostly dependent on the activity of its cilia1, which are regulated by the intra-cellular cation concentration, which in turn is modified by Ca-dependent electrogenesis in the membrane2,3. Behavioural abnormalities due to defective membrane electrogenesis have been found in mutants of P. tetraurelia4–7. We have now found similar abnormalities among a group of behavioural mutants of P. caudatum. These show promise of an excellent source of genetic markers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Institute, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980, Japan

    MIHOKO TAKAHASHI

  2. Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 300-31, Japan

    YUTAKA NAITOH

Authors
  1. MIHOKO TAKAHASHI
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  2. YUTAKA NAITOH
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TAKAHASHI, M., NAITOH, Y. Behavioural mutants of Paramecium caudatum with defective membrane electrogenesis. Nature 271, 656–659 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/271656a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/271656a0

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