Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2014
Publication Title
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
Abstract
Only a limited number of studies exist on the life cycles of nonmodel ciliates such as Chilodonella uncinata (Cl: Phyllopharyngea). The handful of papers on this taxon indicate the presence of a heteromeric macronucleus, marked by separate DNA-rich and DNA-poor regions. Here, we study the life cycle of C. uncinata using confocal laser scanning microscopy with 4′,6-diamidino-2- phenylindole staining, which allows us to differentiate nuclear dynamics of the micronucleus and the macronucleus during life-cycle stages. We photo-documented various stages and confirmed aspects of the development of the new macronucleus previously characterized by electron microscopy. We further reveal the heteromeric structure of the macronucleus with Z-stacks and three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. We find no evidence for the presence of an endosome at the center of the macronucleus during vegetative growth. In addition to illustrating the life cycle of this ciliate, the approaches developed for this study will enable additional comparative analyses of nuclear dynamics using fluorescence microscopy.
Keywords
confocal microscopy, macronuclear anlage, nuclear dynamics, vegetative cell
Volume
61
Issue
3
First Page
313
Last Page
316
DOI
10.1111/jeu.12109
ISSN
10665234
Rights
© 2014 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2014 The Author(s) Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology © 2014 International Society of Protistologists.
Recommended Citation
Bellec, Laure; Maurer-Alcala, Xyrus X.; and Katz, Laura A., "Characterization of the Life Cycle and Heteromeric Nature of the Macronucleus of the Ciliate Chilodonella uncinata Using Fuorescence Microscopy" (2014). Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/bio_facpubs/109
Comments
Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.