Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 23 May 1969:
Vol. 164. no. 3882, pp. 963 - 965
DOI: 10.1126/science.164.3882.963
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Ionic Mechanisms Controlling Behavioral Responses of Paramecium to Mechanical Stimulation

Yutaka Naitoh 1 and Roger Eckert 1

1 Department of Zoology, University of California, Los Angeles

A mechanical stimulus applied to the anterior part of Paramecium causes a transient increase in membrane permeability to calcium. This permits a calcium current to flow into the cell, causing the membrane potential to approach the equilibrium level for calcium. The transient depolarization which results elicits a reversal in the direction of ciliary beat. When the organisms are free-swimming this is seen as the reversed locomotion of Jennings' "avoiding reaction." In contrast, a mechanical stimulus applied to the posterior part results in increased permeability to potassium ions, and hence an outward potassium current. The hyperpolarization which results causes an increase in the frequency of ciliary beat in the normal direction. In free-swimming specimens this is seen as an increase in the velocity of forward locomotion.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Spontaneous fluctuation of the resting membrane potential in Paramecium: amplification caused by intracellular Ca2+.
Y. Nakaoka, T. Imaji, M. Hara, and N. Hashimoto (2009)
J. Exp. Biol. 212, 270-276
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Ion Channels in Microbes.
B. Martinac, Y. Saimi, and C. Kung (2008)
Physiol Rev 88, 1449-1490
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Hypo-osmotic or Ca2+-rich external conditions trigger extra contractile vacuole complex generation in Paramecium multimicronucleatum.
M. Iwamoto, R. D. Allen, and Y. Naitoh (2003)
J. Exp. Biol. 206, 4467-4473
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Photolysis of caged calcium in cilia induces ciliary reversal in Paramecium caudatum.
Y. Iwadate (2003)
J. Exp. Biol. 206, 1163-1170
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
In the polymorphic ciliate Tetrahymena vorax, the non-selective phagocytosis seen in microstomes changes to a highly selective process in macrostomes.
H. K. Gronlien, T. Berg, and A. M. Lovlie (2002)
J. Exp. Biol. 205, 2089-2097
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Physical and physiological components of the graviresponses of wild-type and mutant Paramecium Tetraurelia.
U Nagel and H Machemer (2000)
J. Exp. Biol. 203, 1059-1070
   Abstract »    PDF »
Simple fluctuation of Ca2+ elicits the complex circadian dynamics of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in Paramecium.
K Hasegawa, H Kikuchi, S Ishizaki, A Tamura, Y Tsukahara, Y Nakaoka, E Iwai, and T Sato (1999)
J. Cell Sci. 112, 201-207
   Abstract »    PDF »
A mechanosensitive ion channel in the yeast plasma membrane.
M. Gustin, X. Zhou, B Martinac, and C Kung (1988)
Science 242, 762-765
   Abstract »    PDF »
Ion Channels in Paramecium, Yeast, and Escherichia coli.
Y. Saimi, B. Martinac, M.C. Gustin, M.R. Culbertson, J. Adler, and C. Kung (1988)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 53, 667-673
   Abstract »    PDF »
Calcium entry leads to inactivation of calcium channel in Paramecium.
P Brehm and R Eckert (1978)
Science 202, 1203-1206
   Abstract »    PDF »
Chemotaxis away from uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation in Bacillus subtilis.
G. Ordal and D. Goldman (1975)
Science 189, 802-805
   Abstract »    PDF »
Phototaxis and Sensory Transduction in Euglena.
B. Diehn (1973)
Science 181, 1009-1015
   Abstract »    PDF »
Bioelectric Control of Ciliary Activity.
R. Eckert (1972)
Science 176, 473-481
   PDF »
Reactivated Triton-Extracted Models of Paramecium: Modification of Ciliary Movement by Calcium Ions.
Y. Naitoh and H. Kaneko (1972)
Science 176, 523-524
   Abstract »    PDF »
Cilia: Activation Coupled to Mechanical Stimulation by Calcium Influx.
A. Murakami and R. Eckert (1972)
Science 175, 1375-1377
   Abstract »    PDF »
Chemoreceptors in Bacteria.
J. Adler (1969)
Science 166, 1588-1597
   PDF »
Ciliary Orientation: Controlled by Cell Membrane or by Intracellular Fibrils?.
Y. Naitoh and R. Eckert (1969)
Science 166, 1633-1635
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)