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Evidence for ciliary pigment localization in colored ciliates and implications for their photosensory transduction chain: A confocal microscopy study
Author(s) -
Colombetti Giuliano,
Checcucci Giovanni,
Lucia Sabina,
Usai Cesare,
Ramoino Paola,
Bianchini Paolo,
Pesce Mattia,
Vicidomini Giuseppe,
Diaspro Alberto
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.20508
Subject(s) - confocal , confocal microscopy , pigment , fluorescence microscope , biophysics , transduction (biophysics) , biology , microscopy , cilium , microbiology and biotechnology , fluorescence , chemistry , optics , physics , organic chemistry
In this study we report for the first time the localization of a photoreceptor pigment in the cilia of the colored heterotrich ciliates Blepharisma japonicum red and blue form, Fabrea salina , and Stentor coeruleus , as result of a confocal microscopy investigation. Optical sectioning confocal microscopy has been used for studying the spatial distribution of the pigment in the cell body, surprisingly showing that, besides its expected presence in the cortical region immediately below the cell membrane, it is located in the cilia too. In order to ascertain possible differences in the pigment fluorescence properties along the cell body, we have measured emission spectra from different parts of it (anterior, posterior, and cilia). Our results clearly indicate that in all cases the spectra are the same, within experimental errors. Finally, we have evaluated the pigment relative fluorescence efficiency of these ciliates. In an ordered scale from lower to greater efficiency, we have S. coeruleus , B. japonicum blue, B. japonicum red, and F. salina . The possible implications of our findings for the process of photosensory transduction are discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.