Cytoplasmic crystals of the amoebae: Amoeba proteus and Chaos chaos

Grunbaum, Benjamin W.; Møller, K.Max; Thomas, Richard S.

doi:10.1016/0014-4827(59)90021-7

Cited by 25 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Crystalline inclusions are present in many genera of Amoebozoa (Bovee ; Griffin ; Grunbaum et al. ). Most Cochliopodium species have spherical, granular, ovoid, or bipyramidal cytoplasmic inclusions (crystals) (Table ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three New Freshwater Cochliopodium Species (Himatismenida, Amoebozoa) from the Southeastern United States

Melton

Singla

Wood

et al. 2019

J Eukaryotic Microbiology

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Cochliopodium is a lens‐shaped genus of Amoebozoa characterized by a flexible layer of microscopic dorsal scales. Recent taxonomic and molecular studies reported cryptic diversity in this group and suggested that the often‐used scale morphology is not a reliable character for species delineation in the genus. Here, we described three freshwater Cochliopodium spp. from the southeastern United States based on morphological, immunocytochemistry (ICC), and molecular data. A maximum‐likelihood phylogenetic analysis and pairwise comparison of COI sequences of Cochliopodium species showed that each of these monoclonal cultures were genetically distinct from each other and any described species with molecular data. Two of the new isolates, “crystal UK‐YT2” (Cochliopodium crystalli n. sp.) and “crystal‐like UK‐YT3” (C. jaguari n. sp.), formed a clade with C. larifeili, which all share a prominent microtubule organizing center (MTOC) and have cubical‐shaped crystals. The “Marrs Spring UK‐YT4” isolate, C. marrii n. sp., was 100% identical to “Cochliopodium sp. SG‐2014 .” These sequences formed a clade with C. actinophorum and C. arabianum. While the new isolates can be separated morphologically, most of the taxonomic features used in the group show plasticity; therefore, Cochliopodium species can only be reliably identified with the help of molecular data.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three New Freshwater Cochliopodium Species (Himatismenida, Amoebozoa) from the Southeastern United States

Melton

Singla

Wood

et al. 2019

J Eukaryotic Microbiology

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“…They were soluble in hot water, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and glacial acetic acid; were slightly soluble in cold water, and were insoluble in carbon tetrachloride, alcohol, ether, acetone, oils, and dimbutyl phthalate (cf. 4,9,12). Infrared Spectroscopy.--The purified crystals gave a characteristic infrared spectrum ( Fig.…”

Section: X-ray Crystallographymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,9,11,12,18). The presence or absence of vacuole membranes seems to depend on the strain of ameba used, on the culture conditions, and on the care with which the cells are handled during observations.…”

Section: Comparison Of Purified Crystals With Carbonylmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Isolation, Characterization, and Identification of the Crystalline Inclusions of the Large Free-Living Amebae

Griffin

1960

The Journal of Cell Biology

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Amoeba proteus, Amoeba dubia, and Chaos chaos all contain similar plate-like and bipyramidal cytoplasmic crystals. Isolated crystals, purified by recrystallization from water, yield plate-like crystals which have been shown to be identical with synthesized carbonyl diurea (triuret) with regard to physicochemical properties, elemental analysis, x-ray diffraction patterns, infrared spectra, and optical properties. The birefringent plates found in the cytoplasm are carbonyl diurea. While the exact composition of the isotropic plates and of the bipyramids is not clear at present, the major constituent of these crystal types is also carbonyl diurea. It is suggested that carbonyl diurea is a nitrogen excretion product, not previously found in living organisms, and probably represents an end product of purine metabolism in amebic. I N T R O D U C T I O NCrystalline inclusions are found in the cytoplasm of most of the large free-living amebae. These crystals are particularly apparent in the carnivorous amebae, Amoeba proteus, Amoeba dubia, and Chaos chaos, while the lack of crystals is one of several characteristics that distinguish the herbivorous ameba, Pelomyxa palustris, from the species above (10). Many speculations have been made as to the chemical nature of the crystals and as to their function in the cytoplasm. Most authors have considered them to be either food reserves or excretory products (of. 2, 3, 5, ll, 12, 16, 18).Mast and Doyle (12) suggested, on insufficient evidence, that the plate-like and bipyramidal crystals found in Amoeba proteus were leucine and a magnesium salt of glycine respectively. Bernheimer (4) studied the refractive index, melting point, and solubility properties of bipyramidal crystals from various ameba species. He demonstrated that the crystals of Chaos di.l~tuem (A.

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“…The question does not yet appear to be settled whether the bipyramids are carbonyl diurea in another crystalline arrangement, or a related compound which breaks down in water to form carbonyl diurea. At any rate, G r u n b a u m et al (10) have determined the density of ameba crystals as 1.74, while the density of synthetic carbonyl diurea crystals is 1.745 i 0.005. These data prove that the crystals have reduced weight some eight to nine times that assumed in previous cemrifngation studies (15).…”

Section: Physical Properties and Hydro@namic Behavior Of The Crystallmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Consistency of Ameba Cytoplasm and Its Bearing on the Mechanism of Ameboid Movement

Allen

1960

The Journal of Cell Biology

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Three species of common, free-living amebae, Amoeba proteus, Amoeba dubia, and Chaos chaos were directly observed and photographed while exposed to a range of centrifugal accelerations in two types of centrifuge microscopes. Cytoplasmic inclusions in all three species are displaced discontinuously (at a variable velocity) in apparently all parts of the cell, suggesting non-Newtonian behavior and/or heterogeneous consistency. The ectoplasm of all species shows the highest yield point of any region in the cell; the posterior ectoplasm is less rigid than that in the anterior part of the cell. The axial part of the endoplasm shows evidence of structure (a sharp viscosity transition if not a true yield point) by its: (a) resistance to the displacement of particles carried in that region of the cell, (b) hindrance to the passage through the cell of inclusions displaced from other regions, and its (c) support without visible back-slip of inclusion being resuspended in the axial endoplasm in a centripetal direction at accelerations as high as 170 g. At this acceleration, each crystal "weighs" the equivalent reduced weight of seven times its volume in gold at 1 g. The only regions of the normal, moving cell which show clear evidence of low apparent viscosity are the "shear zone" (see Fig. 8) and the "recruitment zone." Possible reasons for low apparent viscosity in these regions are discussed. A new scheme of ameba "structure" is presented on the basis of the combined results of velocity profile analysis and the present centrifugation study.

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Cytoplasmic crystals of the amoebae: Amoeba proteus and Chaos chaos

Cited by 25 publications

References 12 publications

Three New Freshwater Cochliopodium Species (Himatismenida, Amoebozoa) from the Southeastern United States

Three New Freshwater Cochliopodium Species (Himatismenida, Amoebozoa) from the Southeastern United States

The Isolation, Characterization, and Identification of the Crystalline Inclusions of the Large Free-Living Amebae

The Consistency of Ameba Cytoplasm and Its Bearing on the Mechanism of Ameboid Movement

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