An organism discovered on the Japanese seashore behaves as a predator and a plant in a bizarre lifecycle that may bring biologists closer to understanding how chloroplasts became part of plant cells, according to a study from the University of Tsukuba.
Before understanding how this mysterious single-celled organism works, it had to be given a proper scientific name. Analysis of its cellular structure and genetic profile showed that it is most closely related to organisms assigned to the genus Katablepharis. However, electron microscopy revealed certain quirky features that are not consistent with Katablepharis classification. These features include a compressed-oval cellular shape, an unmistakable crawling motion, and a feeding structure composed …show more content…
arenicola is also facilitated by the remarkable growth of the plastid that results in it occupying most of the symbiont compartment, shown in (E). The increased surfaced area of the plastid benefits the host because more receives more energy to power its activities. H. arenicola is said to be in its plant stage because it is receiving energy from its photosynthesizing symbiont.
The “Half-plant, Half-predator” model helps describe how H. arenicola’s life cycle accommodates its baffling transformation from predator to plant. According to the model, H. arenicola can only undergo division if it contains its symbiont. The division a symbiont-bearing H. arenicola cell produces two vastly different cells. One of the daughter cells is green coloured because it retained the entire green alga symbiont while the other daughter cell is colourless and free of symbiont. The symbiont is never shared between the two daughter cells because it always polarizes to one side of a dividing H. arenicola cell.
Although results of the study have elucidated many questions sparked by the mysterious H. arenicola, uncertainties surrounding the organism still linger. For example, it is unclear what genetic changes, if any, accompany its endosymbiotic process. As a result, research involving H. arenicola will likely
Before understanding how this mysterious single-celled organism works, it had to be given a proper scientific name. Analysis of its cellular structure and genetic profile showed that it is most closely related to organisms assigned to the genus Katablepharis. However, electron microscopy revealed certain quirky features that are not consistent with Katablepharis classification. These features include a compressed-oval cellular shape, an unmistakable crawling motion, and a feeding structure composed …show more content…
arenicola is also facilitated by the remarkable growth of the plastid that results in it occupying most of the symbiont compartment, shown in (E). The increased surfaced area of the plastid benefits the host because more receives more energy to power its activities. H. arenicola is said to be in its plant stage because it is receiving energy from its photosynthesizing symbiont.
The “Half-plant, Half-predator” model helps describe how H. arenicola’s life cycle accommodates its baffling transformation from predator to plant. According to the model, H. arenicola can only undergo division if it contains its symbiont. The division a symbiont-bearing H. arenicola cell produces two vastly different cells. One of the daughter cells is green coloured because it retained the entire green alga symbiont while the other daughter cell is colourless and free of symbiont. The symbiont is never shared between the two daughter cells because it always polarizes to one side of a dividing H. arenicola cell.
Although results of the study have elucidated many questions sparked by the mysterious H. arenicola, uncertainties surrounding the organism still linger. For example, it is unclear what genetic changes, if any, accompany its endosymbiotic process. As a result, research involving H. arenicola will likely