Protoplasma

, Volume 118, Issue 1, pp 10–18 | Cite as

Cell-substrate interactions during amoeboid locomotion ofNaegleria gruberi with special reference to alterations in temperature and electrolyte concentration of the medium

  • C. A. King
  • L. Cooper
  • T. M. Preston
Article
Received:
Accepted:

Summary

The effect of temperature variation on the speed of amoeboid movement ofNaegleria gruberi, a common soil protozoon, across a planar glass substrate under different electrolyte conditions (deionized water and 10 mM NaCl) has been measured. Cellsubstratum interactions of this amoeba were already known to differ at 20°C in these two media. While motility was evident at 8°C in these two media, speed of locomotion increased with temperature in both media, doubling between 20°C and 30°C, only to fall off sharply above 35°C. The rate of change of cell-substratum contact at both 20°C and 30°C was studied by reflexion interference microscopy. In the light of this data possible models for amoeboid locomotion involving associated contact and focal contacts were developed particularly in relation to a possible steering role played by the anterior region ofNaegleria.

Keywords

Amoeboid locomotion Cell-substrate interactions Naegleria Temperature 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Allen, R. D., 1961: A new theory of amoeboid movement and protoplasmic streaming. Exp. Cell Res.8, 17–31.Google Scholar
  2. Brown, S., Spudich, J. A., 1979: Cytochalasin inhibits the rate of elongation of actin filament fragments. J. Cell Biol.83, 657–662.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  3. Davies, A. H., Preston, T. M., King, C. A., 1981: Lack of gravity effect on the speed of amoeboid locomotion inNaegleria gruberi. Experientia37, 708–709.Google Scholar
  4. Edds, K. T., 1977: Dynamic aspects of filopodial formation by reorganization of microfilaments. J. Cell Biol.73, 479–491.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  5. Grebecki, A., 1979: Organisation of the motor functions in amoebae and in slime mould's plasmodia. Acta Protozool.18, 493–502.Google Scholar
  6. —,Grebecka, L., Klopocka, W., 1981: Testing steering functions of the frontal zone in the locomotion ofAmoeba proteus. Cell Biol. Int. Rep.5, 595–600.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  7. Hainsworth, F. R., 1981: In: Animal Physiology, pp. 183–186. Publ. Addison-Wesley Publ. Co.Google Scholar
  8. Heath, J. P., 1982: Adhesions to substratum and locomotory behaviour of fibroblasts and epithelial cells in culture. In: Cell Behaviour (Curtis, A. S. G., Bellairs, R., Dunn, G. A., eds.), pp. 77–108. Cambridge: University Press.Google Scholar
  9. Heilbrunn, L. V., 1943: In: An Outline of General Physiology, 2nd Edition, pp. 432–436. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders.Google Scholar
  10. Hopkins, D. L., 1937: The relation between temperatures and locomotion in the marine amoeba,Flabelula mira with special reference to adaptation to temperature. Protoplasma28, 161–174.Google Scholar
  11. King, C. A., Preston, T. M., 1977: Studies of anionic sites on the cell surface of the amoebaNaegleria gruberi using cationised ferritin. J. Cell Sci.28, 133–149.Google Scholar
  12. —,Westwood, R., Cooper, L., Preston, T. M., 1979: Speed of locomotion of the soil amoebaNaegleria gruberi in media of different ionic compositions with special reference to interactions with the substratum. Protoplasma99, 323–334.Google Scholar
  13. —,Preston, T. M., Miller, R. H., Grose, C., 1982: The cell surface in amoeboid locomotion — studies on the role of cell-substrate adhesion. Cell Biol. Int. Rep.6, 893–900.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  14. Mast, S. O., 1926: Structure, movement, locomotion and stimulation in Amoeba. J. Morphol. Physiol.41, 347–425.Google Scholar
  15. —,Prosser, C. L., 1932: Effect of temperature, salts and hydrogen ion concentration on rupture of plasmagel sheet, rate of locomotion and gel/sol ratio inAmoeba proteus. J. cell. comp. Physiol.1, 333–354.Google Scholar
  16. Nozawa, Y., Thompson, G. A., 1979: In: Biochemistry and Physiology of Protozoa2, 2nd Edition (Levandowsky, M., Hutner, S. M., eds.), pp. 275–338. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
  17. Preston, T. M., King, C. A., 1978: An experimental study of the interaction between the soil amoebaNaegleria gruberi and a glass substrate during amoeboid locomotion. J. Cell Sci.34, 145–158.Google Scholar
  18. Stetter, K. O., 1982: Ultra thin mycelia-forming organisms from submarine volcanic areas having an optimum growth temperature of 105°C. Nature300, 258–260.Google Scholar
  19. Taylor, D. L., Condeelis, J. S., 1979: Cytoplasmic structure and contractility in amoeboid cells. Int. Rev. Cytol.56, 57–144.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  20. Thompson, J. E., Pauls, K. P., 1980: In: Biochemistry and Physiology of Protozoa3, 2nd Edition (Levandowsky, M., Hutner, S. H., eds.), pp. 207–253. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1983

Authors and Affiliations

  • C. A. King
    • 1
  • L. Cooper
    • 1
  • T. M. Preston
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of ZoologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK

Personalised recommendations