Cytoskeletal elements of two morphologically distinct coelomic eugregarines Urospora travisiae and Urospora ovalis from marine polychaete Travisia forbesii
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| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | The genus Urospora unites eugregarines of considerable morphological plasticity, inhabiting body cavity and tissues of a wide range of marine and freshwater invertebrates. Only few members were investigated from ultrastructural and molecular phylogenetic viewpoint. Combining electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy, here we present a morphological study of Urospora travisiae and Urospora ovalis. The trophozoites of U. travisiae are of V-like shape with two narrowing branches converging at a point with attachment organelle. Detached trophozoites exhibit a gliding motility. Their pellicle forms longitudinal epicytic folds (EF) along the axis of each branch. In contrast, solitary ovoid trophozoites of U. ovalis float freely in the coelom and exhibit metabolic activity. Their surface is covered with EF; additional longitudinal superfolds bearing a number of EF form in the region of contractions during metaboly. The phalloidin labelling showed that the distribution of filamentous actin fits to the pattern of EF. In U. travisiae, tiny filaments of actin lay superficially and parallel to each other along the longitudinal axis of the branch. In solitary U. ovalis, individual filaments are not clearly seen, however, general pattern of their distribution corresponds to that in U. travisiae. The a-tubulin immunolabeling showed that subpellicular microtubules in U. travisiae and U. ovalis distribute circumferentially along the cell axis, with abundant cytoplasmic clusters. Phalloidin staining of U. ovalis syzygy demonstrated that filamentous actin distributes in bands along with superfolds, and individual longitudinal filaments pass along EF that run in-between superfolds. The microtubules in U. ovalis syzygy orient not circumferentially as in solitary trophozoites, but along longitudinal cell axis and repeat the pattern of the superfolds organisation. Numerous clusters of a-tubulin can be also seen in cytoplasm. Despite considerable differences in their morphology and motility mode, both species show similarities in cytoskeleton organisation. Financial support provided by GAČR No. P505/12/G112. |
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