Speed Demons: Giant Proteins Behind World’s Fastest Biological Movement Unveiled




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.