Skip to main content
Log in

Ultrastructure and development of the amoebo-flagellate cells of the protostelidProtosporangium articulatum

  • Published:
Protoplasma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Amoebo-flagellate cells develop upon spore germination in the protostelidProtosporangium articulatum. The germling may emerge flagellate or as an amoeba. In either case the cell undergoes mitosis within an hour of germination. The spindle is open and centric, and typically has several pairs of kinetosomes at the poles. During telophase, the kinetosomes are found at the surface of the cell and flagella and flagellar rootlets begin to develop. Some flagella remain in close association with the nucleus, the nucleus-associated flagella; others are located away from the nucleus, the supernumerary flagella. The flagellar apparatus is identical for both nucleus-associated flagella and supernumerary flagella. However, only the nucleus-associated flagella are able to generate the jerking, helical swim typical of amoebo-flagellates with a swarm cell-like morphology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aldrich HC (1968) The development of flagella in swarm cells of the myxomycetePhysarum flavicomum. J gen Microbiol 50: 217–222

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1969) The ultrastructure of mitosis in myxamoebae and plasmodia ofPhysarum flavicomum. Am J Bot 56: 290–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Haskins EF (1978) A study on the amoebo-flagellate transformation in the slime moldEchinostelium minutum de Bary. Protoplasma 94: 193–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Hinchee AA, Haskins EF (1980) Open spindle nuclear division in the amoebal phase of the acellular slime moldEchinostelium minutum with chromosomal movement related to pronounced rearrangements of spindle microtubules. Protoplasma 102: 117–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishigami M (1977) A light and electron microscopic study of the flagellate-to-ameba conversion in the myxomyceteStemonitis pallida. Protoplasma 91: 31–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson RK, Scheetz RW (1975) Swarm cell ultrastructure inCeratiomyxa fruticulosa. Mycologia 67: 733–740

    Google Scholar 

  • Olive LS (1975) The mycetozoans. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Stoianovitch C (1972)Protosporangium: a new genus of protostelids. J Protozool 19: 563–571

    Google Scholar 

  • — — (1979) Observations on the mycetozoan genusCeratiomyxa: description of a new species. Mycologia 71: 546–555

    Google Scholar 

  • Pagh K, Adelman MR (1982) Identification of a microfilament-enriched, motile domain in amoeboflagellates ofPhysarum polycephalum. J Cell Sci 54: 1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiegel FW (1981 a) Phylogenetic significance of the flagellar apparatus in protostelids (Eumycetozoa). BioSystems 14: 491–499

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1981 b) Phylogenetic significance of the flagellar apparatus ofCeratiomyxa. J Elisha Mitchell Sci Soc 97: 183–189

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1982 a) The ultrastructure of the trophic cells of the protostelidPlanoprotostelium aurantium. Protoplasma 113: 165–177

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1982 b) Mitosis in the protostelidPlanoprotostelium aurantium. Protoplasma 113: 178–188

    Google Scholar 

  • — (1986) The protostelidEumycetozoa. In:Margulis L, Corliss J (eds) Handbook of protoctista. Jones and Bartlett, Boston (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • -Feldman J (1986) Ultrastructure of mitosis inCeratiomyxella tahitiensis (Eumycetozoa). Can J Bot (in press)

  • Uyeda TQP, Furuya M (1985) Cytoskeletal changes visualized by fluorescence microscopy during amoeba-to-flagellate and flagellate-to-amoeba transformations inPhysarum polycephalum. Protoplasma 126: 221–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright M, Mir L, Moisand A (1980) The structure of the proflagellar apparatus of the amoebae ofPhysarum polycephalum: relationship to the flagellar apparatus. Protoplasma 103: 69–81

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Moisand A, Mir L (1979) The structure of the flagellar apparatus ofPhysarum polycephalum. Protoplasma 100: 231–250

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spiegel, F.W., Feldman, J. & Bennett, W.E. Ultrastructure and development of the amoebo-flagellate cells of the protostelidProtosporangium articulatum . Protoplasma 132, 115–128 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01276991

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01276991

Keywords

Navigation