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Cortical morphogenesis in Paramecium aurelia: mutants affecting cell shape

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2009

J. R. S. Whittle
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, U.S.A.
L. Chen-Shan
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47401, U.S.A.
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Summary

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In order to investigate the importance of the nuclear genotype during morphogenesis of the cortex in Paramecium aurelia, a search was made for conditional and unconditional mutants affecting cell shape. Ten different mutants were readily recovered following mutagenesis with N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine on stock 51s of syngen 4. The detailed pattern of surface units remained unchanged in these mutants but each one can be described as resembling a normal cell twisted about its long axis. Nine of the mutants complement each other and show no linkage. The remaining mutant, a ‘chain former’, has conditional expression, and is only recognizable at 35 °C. The penetrance of this mutant is affected by the food organism used. The conditional mutant also interacts with seven of the other mutants in pairwise homozygous combinations so that in these genotypes it can be classified after growth at 25 °C. The mutants are discussed in relation to the search for genie effects on the cortical pattern.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1972

References

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