Optimizing the Motility of the Non-Swimming Euglena mutabilis
Additional Funding Sources
The project described was supported by the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program Site: Molecular and organismal evolution at the University of Idaho under Award No. 1757826.
Presentation Date
7-2019
Abstract
Euglena mutabilis is a single celled photosynthetic protozoan, which often lives in extreme environments. In contrast to other Euglena, E. mutabilis is limited to gliding through its environment, with all or part of its cell body anchored to a surface. During gliding, these cells pause while the leading end of the cell swings to and fro before they resume gliding. Understanding the mechanics of gliding in E. mutabilis is of interest because, although gliding is fairly common in the microbial world, little is known about the molecular mechanism that underlies this particular motility. This research lays the groundwork for future studies of E. mutabilis motility by establishing baseline speeds of individual and group movement in soft agar as a function of varying conditions (e.g. pH). This was accomplished using a novel assay where the Euglena moved in a channel of soft agar across a light gradient. This helps us gain an understanding of typical E. mutabilis motility which will allow other researchers to more easily identify variant behavior (e.g. drug screening or generating mutants). This approach was also used with environmental samples to separate Euglena from particulate matter and a variety of organisms.
Optimizing the Motility of the Non-Swimming Euglena mutabilis
Euglena mutabilis is a single celled photosynthetic protozoan, which often lives in extreme environments. In contrast to other Euglena, E. mutabilis is limited to gliding through its environment, with all or part of its cell body anchored to a surface. During gliding, these cells pause while the leading end of the cell swings to and fro before they resume gliding. Understanding the mechanics of gliding in E. mutabilis is of interest because, although gliding is fairly common in the microbial world, little is known about the molecular mechanism that underlies this particular motility. This research lays the groundwork for future studies of E. mutabilis motility by establishing baseline speeds of individual and group movement in soft agar as a function of varying conditions (e.g. pH). This was accomplished using a novel assay where the Euglena moved in a channel of soft agar across a light gradient. This helps us gain an understanding of typical E. mutabilis motility which will allow other researchers to more easily identify variant behavior (e.g. drug screening or generating mutants). This approach was also used with environmental samples to separate Euglena from particulate matter and a variety of organisms.
Comments
W44