scholarly journals THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FINE STRUCTURE AND DIRECTION OF BEAT IN GILL CILIA OF A LAMELLIBRANCH MOLLUSC

1961 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. R. Gibbons

This paper describes the fine structure and its relationship to the direction of beat in four types of cilia on the gill of the fresh-water mussel Anodonta cataracta. The cilia contain nine outer, nine secondary, and two central fibers, such as have been described previously in other material. Each outer fiber is a doublet with one subfiber bearing arms. One particular pair of outer fibers (numbers 5 and 6) are joined together by a bridge. The two central fibers are enclosed by a central sheath; also present in this region is a single, small mid-fiber. The different groups of fibers are connected together by radial links that extend from the outer to the secondary fibers, and from the secondary fibers to the central sheath. The basal body consists of a cylinder of nine triplet fibers. Projecting from it on one side is a dense conical structure called the basal foot. The cylinder of outer fibers continues from the basal body into the cilium, passing through a complex transitional region in which five distinct changes of structure occur at different levels. There are two sets of fibers associated with the basal bodies: a pair of striated rootlets that extends from each basal body down into the cell, and a system of fine tubular fibers that runs parallel to the cell surface. The relationship between fine structure and direction of beat is the same in all four types of cilia examined. The plane of beat is perpendicular to the plane of the central fibers, with the effective stroke toward the bridge between outer fibers 5 and 6, and toward the foot on the basal body.

1974 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. CAVALIER-SMITH

Basal body development and flagellar regression and growth in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii were studied by light and electron microscopy during the vegetative cell cycle in synchronous cultures and during the sexual life cycle. Flagella regress by gradual shortening prior to vegetative cell division and also a few hours after cell fusion in the sexual cycle. In vegetative cells basal bodies remain attached to the plasma membrane by their transitional fibres and do not act as centrioles at the spindle poles during division. In zygotes the basal bodies and associated microtubular roots and cross-striated connexions all dissolve, and by 6.5 h after mating all traces of flagellar apparatus and associated structures have disappeared. They remain absent for 6 days throughout zygospore maturation and then are reassembled during zygospore germination, after meiosis has begun. Basal body assembly in developing zygospores occurs close to the plasma membrane (in the absence of pre-existing basal bodies) via an intermediate stage consisting of nine single A-tubules surrounding a central ‘cartwheel’. Assembly is similar in vegetative cells (and occurs prior to cell division), except that new basal bodies are physically attached to old ones by amorphous material. In vegetative cells, amorphous disks, which may possibly be still earlier stages in basal-body development occur in the same location as 9-singlet developing basal bodies. After the 9-singlet structure is formed, B and C fibres are added and the basal body elongates to its mature length. Microtubular roots, striated connexions and flagella are then assembled. Both flagellar regression and growth are gradual and sequential, the transitional region at the base of the flagellum being formed first and broken down last. The presence of amorphous material at the tip of the axoneme of growing and regressing flagella suggests that the axoneme grows or shortens by the sequential assembly or disassembly at its tip. In homogenized cells basal bodies remain firmly attached to each other by their striated connexions. The flagellar transitional region, and parts of the membrane and of the 4 microtubular roots, also remain attached; so also do new developing basal bodies, if present. These structures are well preserved in homogenates and new fine-structural details can be seen. These results are discussed, and lend no support to the idea that basal bodies have genetic continuity. It is suggested that basal body development can be best understood if a distinction is made between the information needed to specify the structure of a basal body and that needed to specify its location and orientation.


1989 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Boisvieux-Ulrich ◽  
M.C. Laine ◽  
D. Sandoz

When induced by in vivo oestrogen stimulation, ciliogenesis continues in culture in vitro of quail oviduct implants. Ultrastructure of ciliogenic cells was compared after culture for 24 or 48 h in the presence or absence of 10(−5) M-taxol. Taxol, which promotes polymerization and stabilization of microtubules, disturbed ciliogenesis, but formation of basal bodies was unaffected by the drug. Conversely, their migration towards the apical surface seemed to be slowed down or blocked and axonemal doublets polymerized onto the distal end of cytoplasmic basal bodies. They elongated and often constituted a more or less complete axoneme, extending between organelles in various orientations. These axonemes, often abnormal, were not surrounded by a membrane, with the exception of the transitional or neck region between the basal body and axoneme. The formation of membrane in this area resulted from the binding of some vesicles to the anchoring fibres of the basal body. They fused in various numbers, occasionally forming a ring, at the site of the transitional region, and exhibited the characteristics of the ciliary necklace. The association of basal bodies with vesicles or with the plasma membrane appeared to be a necessary signal for in situ polymerization of axonemal doublets. In addition, taxol induced polymerization of numerous microtubules in the cytoplasm, especially in the apical part of the cell and in the Golgi area. This network of microtubules may prevent basal body migration.


1971 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard G. W. Anderson ◽  
Robert M. Brenner

Basal body replication during estrogen-driven ciliogenesis in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) oviduct has been studied by stereomicroscopy, rotation photography, and serial section analysis. Two pathways for basal body production are described: acentriolar basal body formation (major pathway) where procentrioles are generated from a spherical aggregate of fibers; and centriolar basal body formation, where procentrioles are generated by the diplosomal centrioles. In both pathways, the first step in procentriole formation is the arrangement of a fibrous granule precursor into an annulus. A cartwheel structure, present within the lumen of the annulus, is composed of a central cylinder with a core, spoke components, and anchor filaments. Tubule formation consists of an initiation and a growth phase. The A tubule of each triplet set first forms within the wall material of the annulus in juxtaposition to a spoke of the cartwheel. After all nine A tubules are initiated, B and C tubules begin to form. The initiation of all three tubules occurs sequentially around the procentriole. Simultaneous with tubule initiation is a nonsequential growth of each tubule. The tubules lengthen and the procentriole is complete when it is about 200 mµ long. The procentriole increases in length and diameter during its maturation into a basal body. The addition of a basal foot, nine alar sheets, and a rootlet completes the maturation process. Fibrous granules are also closely associated with the formation of these basal body accessory structures.


1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 367-385
Author(s):  
R.K. Peck

The ultrastructure of the somatic cortex of the ciliate Pseudomicrothorax dubius is studied with emphasis on the epiplasm layer which lies immediately under the inner alveolar membrane and is continuous with the terminal plates of cortical basal bodies. In addition to a clearly demonstrable cytoskeletal role, the epiplasm appears to function as a comenting substance which integrates numerous cortical fibres and membranes. The kinetodesmal, postciliary and transverse fibre systems which originate at the proximal ends of basal bodies extend toward the cell surface and end at or in the epiplasm. Inner alveolar membranes and trichocyst membranes are attached to the epiplasm. Basal bodies are anchored into the epiplasm via their terminal plates. The epiplasm appears to be morphogenetically important as a matrix into which newly formed basal bodies insert. Electron-opaque arms occur at the terminal plate level of new basal bodies, and these arms fuse with the epiplasm when basal body insertion occurs. The position of trichocysts in the cortex is specified by the epiplasm. Evidence from numerous other ciliates tends to confirm both structural and morphogenetic roles of the epiplasm.


The centriolar apparatus in the flagellate genera Trichonympha and Pseudotrichonympha is located at the anterior end of the cell, in the rostrum. It forms part of a complex system of structures which includes the rostral tube, inner and outer caps, and the rostral flagella. The fine structure of these organelles is described in detail on the basis of an electron-microscope study of sectioned and negatively stained material. In Trichonympha the rostral tube is a hollow cylinder, made of a cross-striated protein with a periodicity of about 450 Å. This is organized into radially arranged lamellae, which continue posteriorly as the parabasal filaments. The tube is continuous anteriorly with two finely striated crescentic bodies, which correspond to the so-called short centrioles of some previous workers. There is no evidence that they are centriolar in function. In the interphase cell the centriolar apparatus consists principally of a long centriolar rod, of complex fine structure, lying in the anterior end of the rostral tube. There is no evidence of typical centriolar structure in this, but at division an aster forms around one end of it. Surmounting the apex of the rostral tube is a dense, finely fibrous body, the inner cap. Lying within this there is a typical centriole (similar in structure to a basal body), and also the basal body of one flagellum, which appears to be distinct from all the rest. The functions of these two structures are not known. The margin of the inner cap connects with the complex system of delicate fibres which links the basal bodies of the rostral flagella. The function of the fibres, and possibly also of the inner cap, may be to coordinate the activities of the rostral flagella. The outer cap is composed mainly of tubules, 250 Å in diameter, but shows variations in structure in different species. The structures in Pseudotrichonympha which presumably serve similar functions are in many respects very differently organized. The rostral tube is more complex, with distinct inner and outer walls of different fine structure. There are also complex inner and outer surface layers. A striking feature is that although the various components of the tube are quite different in structure, they display a common periodicity in their organization. The centriolar apparatus appears to consist principally of two dense bands running along the inner wall of the tube, connecting anteriorly to an extended layer of centriolar material to which spindle fibres are attached in radially polarized fashion throughout interphase. There is no centriolar rod or typical centriole, such as is found in Trichonympha . Very elaborate systems of fibres are associated with the inner cap and the anterior end of the rostral tube. The two genera are compared, and the findings related to knowledge of centriolar structures in other types of cell. Possible evolutionary explanations for the complexity and variation in fine structure in these flagellates are considered.


1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1189-1197 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Gordon ◽  
B P Lane ◽  
F Miller

To determine the molecular composition of the components of basal bodies and the interbasal body apparatus of ciliated cells in rat tracheal epithelium, we used rabbit anti-actin, anti-alpha-actinin, anti-tropomyosin, and anti-myosin as primary antisera applied to the tissue in an indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The antisera was proven to be monospecific by elution of antibody after affinity chromatography. Sheep anti-rabbit immunoglobulin Fab fragments coupled to peroxidase were used for ultrastructural localization of the bound rabbit antibody. Antibodies against alpha-actinin were demonstrated around peripheral microtubules of cilia and linking these microtubules to central doublet and plasma membrane. Alpha-actinin was also shown in the basal foot processes. Anti-actin antibodies were associated with microtubules of the cilium and basal bodies, except in the region of the ciliary necklace. The antibodies directed against actin also had affinity for rootlets, basal foot processes, and communications between basal bodies and foot processes. Both anti-myosin and anti-tropomyosin antibodies were localized to part of the region of the constriction of the cilium, to the central basal density and the outer surfaces of basal body microtubules, and to the basal foot processes together with their communications to the basal body. The data suggest active contractile function of basal bodies.


1966 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan D. Dingle ◽  
Chandler Fulton

Flagellates of Naegleria gruberi have an interconnected flagellar apparatus consisting of nucleus, rhizoplast and accessory filaments, basal bodies, and flagella. The structures of these components have been found to be similar to those in other flagellates. The development of methods for obtaining the relatively synchronous transformation of populations of Naegleria amebae into flagellates has permitted a study of the development of the flagellar apparatus. No indications of rhizoplast, basal body, or flagellum structures could be detected in amebae. A basal body appears and assumes a position at the cell surface with its filaments perpendicular to the cell membrane. Axoneme filaments extend from the basal body filaments into a progressive evagination of the cell membrane which becomes the flagellum sheath. Continued elongation of the axoneme filaments leads to differentiation of a fully formed flagellum with a typical "9 + 2" organization, within 10 min after the appearance of basal bodies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 1321-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Lozano-Núñez ◽  
Kyojiro N. Ikeda ◽  
Thomas Sauer ◽  
Christopher L. de Graffenried

Polo-like kinases are important regulators of cell division, playing diverse roles in mitosis and cytoskeletal inheritance. In the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the single PLK homologue TbPLK is necessary for the assembly of a series of essential organelles that position and adhere the flagellum to the cell surface. Previous work relied on RNA interference or inhibitors of undefined specificity to inhibit TbPLK, both of which have significant experimental limitations. Here we use an analogue-sensitive approach to selectively and acutely inhibit TbPLK. T. brucei cells expressing only analogue-sensitive TbPLK (TbPLKas) grow normally, but upon treatment with inhibitor develop defects in flagellar attachment and cytokinesis. TbPLK cannot migrate effectively when inhibited and remains trapped in the posterior of the cell throughout the cell cycle. Using synchronized cells, we show that active TbPLK is a direct requirement for the assembly and extension of the flagellum attachment zone, which adheres the flagellum to the cell surface, and for the rotation of the duplicated basal bodies, which positions the new flagellum so that it can extend without impinging on the old flagellum. This approach should be applicable to the many kinases found in the T. brucei genome that lack an ascribed function.


1977 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 547-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
R G Anderson

Biochemical and cytochemical techniques were used to determine whether oviduct basal bodies have ATPase activity. All studies were carried out on basal bodies isolated and purified from the chicken oviduct. These preparations contained structurally intact basal bodies with basal feet, rootlet, and alar sheet accessory structures. Whereas the specific activity of the basal body ATPase in 2 mM Ca++ or 2 mM Mg++, 1 mM ATP, pH 8.0, averaged 0.04 mumol Pi/min per mg protein, higher concentrations of either cation inhibited the enzyme activity. Furthermore, the pH optimum for this reaction was pH 8.5. In comparison, the ATPase activity in cilia purified and measured under conditions identical to those for determining the basal body ATPase activity averaged 0.07 mumol Pi/min per mg protein. However, the activity increased at higher concentrations of divalent cation, and the pH optimum was pH 10.0. By cytochemical procedures for localizing ATPase activity, ATP-dependent reaction product in isolated basal bodies was found to be confined to: (a) the cross-striations of the rootlet; (b) the outer portion of the basal foot; (c) the alar sheets; and (d) the triplet microtubules. It is concluded that basal bodiesve an intrinsic ATPase activity that, by a variety of criteria, can be distinguished from the ATPase activity found in cilia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunchul Ryu ◽  
Haeryung Lee ◽  
Jiyeon Lee ◽  
Hyuna Noh ◽  
Miram Shin ◽  
...  

AbstractThe motile cilia of ependymal cells coordinate their beats to facilitate a forceful and directed flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Each cilium originates from a basal body with a basal foot protruding from one side. A uniform alignment of these basal feet is crucial for the coordination of ciliary beating. The process by which the basal foot originates from subdistal appendages of the basal body, however, is unresolved. Here, we show FGFR1 Oncogene Partner (FOP) is a useful marker for delineating the transformation of a circular, unpolarized subdistal appendage into a polarized structure with a basal foot. Ankyrin repeat and SAM domain-containing protein 1A (ANKS1A) interacts with FOP to assemble region I of the basal foot. Importantly, disruption of ANKS1A reduces the size of region I. This produces an unstable basal foot, which disrupts rotational polarity and the coordinated beating of cilia in young adult mice. ANKS1A deficiency also leads to severe degeneration of the basal foot in aged mice and the detachment of cilia from their basal bodies. This role of ANKS1A in the polarization of the basal foot is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates. Thus, ANKS1A regulates FOP to build and maintain the polarity of subdistal appendages.


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