Tetrahymena thermophila: Difference between revisions

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==Cell Structure==
==Cell Structure==
Interesting features of cell structure;
During vegetative growth, ciliates reproduce by binary fission. In Tetrahymena, this involves a remarkable reorganization of the cortical cytoskeleton.
During vegetative growth, ciliates reproduce by binary fission. In Tetrahymena, this involves a remarkable reorganization of the cortical cytoskeleton.



Revision as of 01:56, 30 April 2015

This student page has not been curated.

Classification

Higher order taxa

Eukaryota; Chromalveolata; Ciliophora; Oligohymenophorea; Hymenostomatida; Tetrahymenidae

Species

Tetrahymena thermophila

Description and Significance

Tetrahymena thermophila is a unicellular eukaryote. The organism is about 30 x 50 µm. T. thermophila live in temperate freshwater environments.

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why you think it is important.

Genome Structure

T. thermophila contain both a micronucleus and a macronucleus. The micronucleus serves as the germ line, and contains the genetic information passed down in a sexual manner from one generation to the next. The micronucleus is diploid and contains five pairs of chromosomes. The macronucleus, in contrast, contains the genetic information which is transcribed, translated and passed onto daughter cells through asexual fission. The macronucleus contains 45 copies of 275 chromosomes derived from the fragmentation of the 10 micronuclear chromosomes, as well as 9000 copies of the rRNA gene. Both nuclei have been fully sequenced and scaffolds have been constructed [1]. Additionally the mitochondrial genome has been sequenced [2].

Vegetative cell with macronucleus and micronucleus present

Cell Structure

During vegetative growth, ciliates reproduce by binary fission. In Tetrahymena, this involves a remarkable reorganization of the cortical cytoskeleton.

Metabolism

How it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Life Cycle

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Habitat; symbiosis; biogeochemical significance; contributions to environment.
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

Orias, E., et al. “Tetrahymena thermophila, a unicellular eukaryote with separate germline and somatic genomes”. Research in Microbiology. 2011. Volume 162. p. 578-586

Eisen, J., et al. “Macronuclear Genome Sequence of the Ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, a Model Eukaryote”. Public Library of Science. 2006. Volume 4. p. 1620-1642.

Collins, K., and Gorovsky, M. "Tetrahymena thermophila". Current Biology. 2005. Volume 15. p. R317-R318.

Asai, D., and Forney, J. "Tetrahymena thermophila". 1999. Methods in Cell Biology. Volume 62. p. ii-xviii, 3-585.

Martindale, D., et al. "Conjugation in Tetrahymena thermophila". Experimental Cell Research. 1982. Volume 140. p. 227-236.

Author

Page authored by Hannah Pak and Luke Pryke, students of Prof. Jay Lennon at Indiana University.