Raphidiophrys contractilis
| Raphidiophrys contractilis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Raphidiophrys contractilis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Order: | Centrohelida |
| Family: | Raphidiophryidae |
| Genus: | Raphidiophrys |
| Species: | R. contractilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Raphidiophrys contractilis | |
Raphidiophrys contractilis is a protist species in the genus of Raphidiophrys.
Discovery
The scientists first isolated a species of heliozoans from a brackish pond in Shukkeien Garden, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Japan. Electron-microscopic observations showed that the axonemal microtubules in this heliozoan constituted a complex pattern of hexagons and triangles.[1]
By applying SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent immunoblotting, molecular weights of α and β-tubulins were determined to be 48 and 45 kDa, respectively. X-ray microanalysis demonstrated that the numerous scales coating the cell body surface were silicic structures. Size and shape of the cell body and the scales were examined and compared with other known species of heliozoans, which led us to conclude that this is a new species belonging to the genus Raphidiophrys.[2]
This heliozoan was also found to carry out rapid axopodial contraction during food uptake at a velocity of about 1 mm/s. With reference to this characteristic contractile behavior, this new species was named Raphidiophrys contractilis.[3]
References
- ↑ 2003. Ca2+-dependent contractility of isolated and demembranated macronuclei in the hypotrichous ciliate Euplotes aediculatus. Cell Calcium 33:113–117.
- ↑ Baron, A. T. and J. L. Salisbury. 1988. Identification and localization of a novel, cytoskeletal, centrosome-associated protein in PtK2 cells. J Cell Biol 107:2669–2678.
- ↑ Sakaguchi, M., T. Suzaki, S. M. M. K. Khan, and K. Hausmann. 2002. Food capture by kinetocysts in the heliozoon Raphidiophrys contractilis. Eur J Protistol 37:453–458.