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Protein Similarities in the Genus Tetrahymena and a Description of Tetrahymena leucophrys n. sp. 1
Author(s) -
WILLIAMS NORMAN E.,
BUHSE HOWARD E.,
SMITH MARLYN G.
Publication year - 1984
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.1550-7408.1984.tb02969.x
Subject(s) - tetrahymena , biology , intraspecific competition , ciliata , protozoa , genus , zoology , tetrahymena pyriformis , botany , genetics
The potential utility of protein arrays visualized by SDS‐PAGE in taxonomic studies of protozoa has been investigated within the genus Tetrahymena . Matching coefficients have been obtained from one‐dimensional separations of cytoskeletal proteins in a study involving 40 strains of Tetrahymena . In separate studies, the method was estimated to be accurate to within 10%, and the limit of intraspecific variation within the genus was estimated at ≅ 30%. Accordingly, it is suggested that strains showing matching coefficients 0.6 in these preparations probably represent different species. Further tests using strains identified to species by breeding criteria have shown that the 0.6 rule is asymmetric, i.e. although matching coefficients lower than this indicate separate species, values higher than this do not prove identity. Protein comparisons included in the present study indicate that strain Tur, previously identified as a strain of T. vorax , is distinct from all other macrostome‐forming species. It is here designated Tetrahymena leucophrys n. sp.