Ultrastructure and Function of Setae of a Planktonic Diatom, Chaetoceros Coarctatus

Silica frustules of most planktonic diatoms have many shallow holes in which the length (L) is smaller than the width (W). The present study focuses on a silicic ultrastructure of the setae of a planktonic diatom having deep (L/W > 1) holes. Here, we characterized nanoholes on the silica walls of hollow setae of a colony of Chaetoceros coarctatus. Basically, tetragonal poroid arrangements with and without a costa pattern are observed on the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, for three kinds of curving hollow setae. Deep nanoholes ∼90 nm wide are elongated from 150 to 1500 nm (L/W ∼17) with an increase in the wall thickness of the polygonal tubes of the setae. The inside poroid array, with a period of 190 nm in the extension direction of setae, is lined by parallel plates of the costae. However, the poroid arrangement on the outer surface is disordered, with several holes obstructed with increasing wall thickness of the posterior terminal setae. According to the movement of a colony in a fluid microchannel, the thick curving terminal setae is suggested to involve attitude control and mechanical protection. Using an optical simulation, the patterned deep through-holes on the intercalary setae were inferred to contribute anti-reflection of blue light for the promotion of photosynthesis in seawater.

Three new Psammothidium species from lakes of Olympic and Cascade Mountains in Washington State, USA

Populations of several Psammothidium species were found in core sediments from nine remote, high elevation, ultraoligotrophic and oligotrophic, Olympic and Cascade Mountain lakes. Three of these species, P. lacustre, P. alpinum, and P. nivale, are described here as new. The morphology of the silica frustules of these species was documented using light and scanning electron microscopy. We discuss the similarities and differences with previously described Psammothidium species.

SILICON METABOLISM IN DIATOMS

1. Cells of the fresh water diatom Navicula pelliculosa may be grown in a mineral medium containing a low concentration of silicon. When transferred to a fresh silicate solution and incubated under non-growing conditions such deficient cells rapidly take up silicon from the medium. 2. The utilization of silicon is an aerobic process. 3. When deficient cells are washed with distilled water or saline, their ability to utilize silicon is impaired whereas respiration is unaffected. 4. The ability of washed cells to take up silicon can be partially restored with sulfate or ascorbic acid, and is completely restored by Na2S, Na2S2O3, glutathione, l-cysteine, dl-methionine, or ascorbic acid plus sulfate. 5. The sulfhydryl reagent, CdCl2, inhibits silicon utilization of unwashed cells at concentrations which do not affect respiration. This inhibition similarly is reversed by glutathione or cysteine. 6. However, sodium iodoacetate or sodium arsenite inhibits respiration and silicon utilization at the same concentrations. 7. The silicon taken up by deficient cells is deposited at the cell surface as a thickening of the existing silica frustules. 8. Sulfhydryl groups in the cell membrane may be involved in silicon uptake by diatoms.