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Pellicle of Paramecium caudatum as Revealed by Freeze Etching
Author(s) -
JANISCH ROMAN
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1972.tb03503.x
Subject(s) - paramecium caudatum , ciliate , paramecium , etching (microfabrication) , biophysics , layer (electronics) , membrane , cortex (anatomy) , cilium , chemistry , materials science , biology , nanotechnology , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , biochemistry , neuroscience
SYNOPSIS. Freeze etching study of Paramecium caudatum surface reveals a regular pattern formed by depressions equipped with a single or paired cilia. This picture is consistent with the generally accepted concept of Paramecium cortex based on conventional methods of study. The surface of the ciliate is covered with small globular particles ∼14 nm in diameter, which have been found also on the plasma membrane of other cells. In the areas where the tips of trichocysts are attached to the pellicle, the globular particles are arranged into circles 0.4 μm in diameter. The whole surface of Paramecium is covered by a smooth thin layer which, always chipped off during fracturing, is detectable only after etching.