Researchers have uncovered the molecular mechanism underlying Spirostomum's
ultrafast contraction. This genus of millimeter-scale single-celled protists
is well recognized for its extraordinarily quick movement. The researchers
discovered that the contractile structure, a mesh-like contractile fibrillar
system, was made up of two enormous proteins and two Ca2+ binding proteins
using a high-quality genome they got using RNAi. This work offers a roadmap
for the design and creation of ultrafast contractile micromachines and is
important for comprehending the molecular process of ultrafast cell
contraction.
The initial findings were made by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who sent a
renowned letter to the Royal Society on October 9, 1676, describing a
single-celled eukaryote called Vorticella and its amazing swift cell
contraction. Different from the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent
mechanisms found in the actin-myosin and dynein/kinesin-tubulin systems,
this type of ultrafast cell contraction is brought about by a Ca2+-dependent
mechanism.
Similar to Vorticella, Spirostomum is a genus of millimeter-scale
single-celled protists that are distinguished by their very swift mobility.
They have some of the biological world's quickest movements possible because
of their very quick contraction. The chemical mechanism underlying this kind
of rapid cell contraction, however, has long remained a mystery despite much
investigation.
This riddle was recently solved by a research team lead by Prof. MIAO Wei
from the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
by revealing the molecular causes of Spirostomum's rapid contraction.
Science Advances published the team's study.
In this study, the researchers used a genome assembly method they had
previously developed to produce a high-quality genome of Spirostomum. They
discovered that the contractile system, which resembled a web of fibers, was
made up of two enormous proteins and two Ca2+-binding proteins. They
confirmed the roles of the enormous proteins using RNAi.
The initial findings were made by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who sent a
renowned letter to the Royal Society on October 9, 1676, describing a
single-celled eukaryote called Vorticella and its amazing swift cell
contraction. Different from the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent
mechanisms found in the actin-myosin and dynein/kinesin-tubulin systems,
this type of ultrafast cell contraction is brought about by a Ca2+-dependent
mechanism.
Similar to Vorticella, Spirostomum is a genus of millimeter-scale
single-celled protists that are distinguished by their very swift mobility.
They have some of the biological world's quickest movements possible because
of their very quick contraction. The chemical mechanism underlying this kind
of rapid cell contraction, however, has long remained a mystery despite much
investigation.
This riddle was recently solved by a research team lead by Prof. MIAO Wei
from the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
by revealing the molecular causes of Spirostomum's rapid contraction.
Science Advances published the team's study.
In this study, the researchers used a genome assembly method they had
previously developed to produce a high-quality genome of Spirostomum. They
discovered that the contractile system, which resembled a web of fibers, was
made up of two enormous proteins and two Ca2+-binding proteins. They
confirmed the roles of the enormous proteins using RNAi.
