Bioelectric control of ciliary activity

Design, engineering and utility of biotic games

Games are a significant and defining part of human culture, and their utility beyond pure entertainment has been demonstrated with so-called 'serious games'. Biotechnology--despite its recent advancements--has had no impact on gaming yet. Here we propose the concept of 'biotic games', i.e., games that operate on biological processes. Utilizing a variety of biological processes we designed and tested a collection of games: 'Enlightenment', 'Ciliaball', 'PAC-mecium', 'Microbash', 'Biotic Pinball', 'POND PONG', 'PolymerRace', and 'The Prisoner's Smellemma'. We found that biotic games exhibit unique features compared to existing game modalities, such as utilizing biological noise, providing a real-life experience rather than virtual reality, and integrating the chemical senses into play. Analogous to video games, biotic games could have significant conceptual and cost-reducing effects on biotechnology and eventually healthcare; enable volunteers to participate in crowd-sourcing to support medical research; and educate society at large to support personal medical decisions and the public discourse on bio-related issues.

Ion channels in microbes

Studies of ion channels have for long been dominated by the animalcentric, if not anthropocentric, view of physiology. The structures and activities of ion channels had, however, evolved long before the appearance of complex multicellular organisms on earth. The diversity of ion channels existing in cellular membranes of prokaryotes is a good example. Although at first it may appear as a paradox that most of what we know about the structure of eukaryotic ion channels is based on the structure of bacterial channels, this should not be surprising given the evolutionary relatedness of all living organisms and suitability of microbial cells for structural studies of biological macromolecules in a laboratory environment. Genome sequences of the human as well as various microbial, plant, and animal organisms unambiguously established the evolutionary links, whereas crystallographic studies of the structures of major types of ion channels published over the last decade clearly demonstrated the advantage of using microbes as experimental organisms. The purpose of this review is not only to provide an account of acquired knowledge on microbial ion channels but also to show that the study of microbes and their ion channels may also hold a key to solving unresolved molecular mysteries in the future.

Potassium Channels Keep Mobile Cells on the Go

Cell motility is a prerequisite for the creation of new life, and it is required for maintaining the integrity of an organism. Under pathological conditions, “too much” motility may cause premature death. Studies over the past few years have revealed that ion channels are essential for cell motility. This review highlights the importance of K+ channels in regulating cell motility.

Tracheobronchial clearance in health and disease: with special reference to interciliary fluid

Rats were exposed to influenza B virus for 2 hours. Mucociliary function in the isolated airway preparation of these animals was studied from the first day after exposure and at regular intervals for up to 190 days. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were done at times corresponding to the mucociliary function studies. TEM studies confirmed the results of the mucociliary function studies: pathological changes were first apparent three days after exposure and began in the distal bronchioles. The morphological studies further demonstrated that the infection progressed proximally to include the entire tracheobronchial tree by the 18th day. The alterations observed included an increase in the number of goblet cells, a decrease in the number of microvilli and a reduction in the amount of interciliary fluid. The last two changes were closely correlated with the severity of the infection. The abnormalities found in mucociliary function included hypersecretion of mucus, inactive and hypoactive zones, synchronization of cilia beating, and a sticking together of the cilia tips.

Pattern formation in ciliary organelle systems of ciliated protozoa

Genetic, morphometric, and microsurgical investigations of the pattern of ciliary organells in ciliate protozoa support the view that ther are two types of developmental process responsible for the positioning of these organelles. The first is exemplified by the propagation of ciliary rows through localized addition of new ciliary units along the axis of the row, a process which is responsible for the maintenance of the pre-existing number of rows in clonal lineages over a large number of fissions. The second is illustrated by two examples: (1) Ciliary units are distributed among ciliary rows of Euplotes minuta according to an invariant geometrical pattern that is independent both of the total number of units and of the number of rows. (2) Microsurgical alteration of the topographical contours of a related ciliate, Paraurostyla weissei, brings about a shift in the sites of formation of certain specific ciliary rudiments to new positions that are determined in relation to the newly constructed form. The two modes of pattern formation in ciliates are discussed from both genetic and developmental viewpoints. The localized positional mechanisms within the ciliary rows allow for a 'configurational heredity' shich is, however, subject to constraints of nuclear genic control both of the stable range of number of rows and of the positioning mechanism itself. The large-scale systems of pattern determination are probably more closely related to the field properties of developing multicellular organisms. In ciliates such systems are almost certainly located in the cell membrane or in the relatively fixed cytoplasmic layer just beneath the membrane.

Efficient mucociliary transport relies on efficient regulation of ciliary beating

The respiratory mucociliary epithelium is a synchronized and highly effective waste-disposal system. It uses mucus as a vehicle, driven by beating cilia, to transport unwanted particles, trapped in the mucus, away from the respiratory system. The ciliary machinery can function in at least two different modes: a low rate of beating that requires only ATP, and a high rate of beating regulated by second messengers. The mucus propelling velocity is linearly dependent on ciliary beat frequency (CBF). The linear dependence implies that a substantial increase in transport efficiency requires an equally substantial rise in CBF. The ability to enhance beating in response to various physiological cues is a hallmark of mucociliary cells. An intricate signaling network controls ciliary activity, which relies on interplay between calcium and cyclic nucleotide pathways.

Genetic dissection of attractant-induced conductances inParamecium

Paramecium tetraurelia is attracted to acetate and biotin by swimming smoothly and fast up gradients of these attractants, and turning immediately and slowing down when leaving these stimuli. We use a group of mutants, each with a different defect in an identified ion conductance, to show that these two stimuli open different ion channels, and the behaviors that occur upon application of stimulus (on-response) and removal of stimulus(off-response) have different roles in attraction to these two stimuli. The most important parameters for successful attraction to acetate are the on-response behaviors of fast swimming with few turns, and the mutants'behavior suggests that IK(Ca,h) is the conductance involved that initiates this behavior. IK(Ca,h or d)appears to be important to the on-response in biotin; the results with mutants suggest that the biotin off-response depolarization is initiated by an ICa, which can be large enough or close enough to channels to open IK(Ca,d), INa(Ca) and IMg(Ca).

Dopamine modulation of Ca(2+) dependent Cl(-) current regulates ciliary beat frequency controlling locomotion in Tritonia diomedea

The physiological mechanisms controlling ciliary beating remain largely unknown. Evidence exists supporting both hormonal control of ciliary beating and control via direct innervation. In the present study we investigated nervous control of cilia based locomotion in the nudibranch mollusc, Tritonia diomedea. Ciliated pedal epithelial (CPE) cells acting as locomotory effectors may be electrically excitable. To explore this possibility we characterized the cells' electrical properties, and found that CPE cells have large voltage dependent whole cell currents with two components. First, there is a fast activating outward Cl(-) current that is both voltage and Ca(2+) influx dependent (I(Cl(Ca))). I(Cl(Ca)) is sensitive to DIDS and 9-AC, and resembles currents of Ca(2+)-activated Cl(-) channels (CaCC). Ca(2+) dependence also suggests the presence of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels; however, we were unable to detect these currents. The second current, a voltage dependent proton current (I(H)), activates very slowly and is sensitive to both Zn(2+) and changes in pH. In addition we identify a new cilio-excitatory substance in Tritonia, viz., dopamine. Dopamine, in the 10 mumol l(-1)-1 mmol l(-1) range, significantly increases ciliary beat frequency (CBF). We also found dopamine and Tritonia Pedal Peptide (TPep-NLS) selectively suppress I(Cl(Ca)) in CPE cells, demonstrating a link between CBF excitation and I(Cl(Ca)). It appears that dopamine and TPep-NLS inhibit I(Cl(Ca)) not through changing [Ca(2+)](in), but directly by an unknown mechanism. Coupling of I(Cl(Ca)) and CBF is further supported by our finding that DIDS and zero [Cl(-)](out) both increase CBF, mimicking dopamine and TPep-NLS excitation. These results suggest that dopamine and TPep-NLS act to inhibit I(Cl(Ca)), initiating and prolonging Ca(2+) influx, and activating CBF excitation.

Nervous control of ciliary beating by Cl-, Ca2+ and calmodulin inTritonia diomedea

In vertebrates, motile cilia line airways, oviducts and ventricles. Invertebrate cilia often control feeding, swimming and crawling, or gliding. Yet control and coordination of ciliary beating remains poorly understood. Evidence from the nudibranch mollusc, Tritonia diomedea, suggests that locomotory ciliated epithelial cells may be under direct electrical control. Here we report that depolarization of ciliated pedal epithelial (CPE)cells increases ciliary beating frequency (CBF), and elicits CBF increases similar to those caused by dopamine and the neuropeptide, TPep-NLS. Further,four CBF stimulants (zero external Cl-, depolarization, dopamine and TPep-NLS) depend on a common mode of action, viz. Ca2+influx, possibly through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, and can be blocked by nifedipine. Ca2+ influx alone, however, does not provide all the internal Ca2+ necessary for CBF change. Ryanodine receptor(RyR) channel-gated internal stores are also necessary for CBF excitation. Caffeine can stimulate CBF and is sensitive to the presence of the RyR blocker dantrolene. Dantrolene also reduces CBF excitation induced by dopamine and TPep-NLS. Finally, W-7 and calmidazolium both block CBF excitation by caffeine and dopamine, and W-7 is effective at blocking TPep-NLS excitation. The effects of calmidazolium and W-7 suggest a role for Ca2+-calmodulin in regulating CBF, either directly or via Ca2+-calmodulin dependent kinases or phosphodiesterases. From these results we hypothesize dopamine and TPep-NLS induce depolarization-driven Ca2+ influx and Ca2+ release from internal stores that activates Ca2+-calmodulin, thereby increasing CBF.

Roles of Ca2+and protein kinase C in the excitatory response to serotonin in embryonic molluscan ciliary cells

We examined the roles of Ca2+and protein kinase C (PKC) in the cilio-excitatory response to serotonin in pedal ciliary cells from Helisoma trivolvis embryos. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT; 100 µmol/L) induced an increase in ciliary beat frequency (CBF) was abolished by microinjected BAPTA (50 mmol/L), but was only partially inhibited by the phospholipase C inhibitor U-73122 (10 µmol/L). The diacylglycerol analogs 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (100 µmol/L) and 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (100 µmol/L) caused increases in [Ca2+]ithat were smaller than those induced by serotonin. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, 1,2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (100 µmol/L) failed to elicit an increase in both CBF and [Ca2+]i. In contrast, the serotonin-induced increase in CBF persisted in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, although the increase in [Ca2+]iwas abolished. PKC inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide (10 and 100 nmol/L) and calphostin C (10 nmol/L) partially inhibited the serotonin-induced increase in CBF, but didn’t affect the serotonin-induced change in [Ca2+]i. These findings suggest that an intracellular store-dependent increase in [Ca2+]imediates the cilio-excitatory response to serotonin. Furthermore, although PKC is able to cause an increase in [Ca2+]ithrough calcium influx, it contributes to the cilio-excitatory response to 5-HT through a different mechanism.

Sub-second calcium coupling between outside medium and subplasmalemmal stores during overstimulation/depolarisation-induced ciliary beat reversal in Paramecium cells

As amply documented by electrophysiology, depolarisation in Paramecium induces a Ca(2+) influx selectively via ciliary voltage-dependent Ca(2+)-channels, thus inducing ciliary beat reversal. Subsequent downregulation of ciliary Ca(2+) has remained enigmatic. We now analysed this aspect, eventually under overstimulation conditions, by quenched-flow/cryofixation, combined with electron microscope X-ray microanalysis which registers total calcium concentrations, [Ca]. This allows to follow Ca-signals within a time period (> or =30ms) smaller than one ciliary beat ( approximately 50ms) and beyond. Particularly under overstimulation conditions ( approximately 10(-5)M Ca(2+) before, 0.5mM Ca(2+) during stimulation) we find in cilia a [Ca] peak at approximately 80ms and its decay to near-basal levels within 110ms (90%) to 170ms (100% decay). This [Ca] wave is followed, with little delay, by a [Ca] wave into subplasmalemmal Ca-stores (alveolar sacs), culminating at approximately 100ms, with a decay to original levels within 170ms. Also with little delay [Ca] slightly increases in the cytoplasm below. This implies rapid dissipation of Ca(2+) through the ciliary basis, paralleled by a rapid, transient uptake by, and release from cortical stores, suggesting fast exchange mechanisms to be analysed as yet. This novel type of coupling may be relevant for some phenomena described for other cells.

Responses of the ciliates Tetrahymena and Paramecium to external ATP and GTP

The unicellular ciliates Paramecium and Tetrahymena are the simplest eukaryotic cells to show reliable depolarizing responses to micromolar concentrations of external ATP and GTP. Their simplicity allows for combined analysis of swimming behavior, electrophysiology, receptor binding, behavioral mutant and drug screens as well as molecular genetic approaches such as RNAi and gene knockouts experiments. ATP and GTP are depolarizing chemorepellents in both ciliates, producing measurable receptor potentials and Ca(2+)-based action potentials that are correlated with jerking behaviors called avoiding reactions (AR). GTP also causes repetitive continuous ciliary reversals (CCR) and oscillating plateau depolarizations in Paramecium. Both ciliates show high affinity, saturable external binding of (32)P-GTP and (32)P-ATP but GTP does not compete for ATP binding and vice versa. Chemosensory adaptation occurs after continued exposure (15 min) to these ligands, producing a loss of external binding and forward swimming. However, cells adapted to ATP still bind and respond to GTP and GTP-adapted cells still bind and respond to ATP. This, combined with pharmacological analyses, suggests that there are two separate receptor systems: A metabotropic ATP receptor pathway and a different, novel GTP receptor pathway. A Paramecium mutant (ginA) lacks the GTP-induced oscillating depolarizations but does show AR in GTP, unveiling isolated GTP-receptor potentials for study. An ecto-ATPase is also present that may be involved in inactivation of ATP and GTP signals. Gene knockout experiments are currently underway to determine the roles of the ecto-ATPase and a putative 7-transmembrane spanning receptor in these responses.

Control of the ciliary beat by cyclic nucleotides in intact cortical sheets from Paramecium

The locomotor behavior of Paramecium depends on the ciliary beat direction and beat frequency. Changes in the ciliary beat are controlled by a signal transduction mechanism that follows changes in the membrane potential. These events take place in cilia covered with a ciliary membrane. To determine the effects of second messengers in the cilia, cortical sheets were used with intact ciliary membrane as a half-closed system in which each cilium is covered with a ciliary membrane with an opening to the cell body. Cyclic nucleotides and their derivatives applied from an opening to the cell body affected the ciliary beat. cAMP and 8-Br-cAMP increased the beat frequency and the efficiency of propulsion and acted antagonistically to the action of Ca(2+). cGMP and 8-Br-cGMP increased the efficiency of propulsion accompanying clear metachronal waves but decreased the beat frequency. These results indicate that the cyclic nucleotides affect target proteins in the ciliary axonemes surrounded by the ciliary membrane without a membrane potential and increase the efficiency of propulsion of the ciliary beat. In vitro phosphorylation of isolated ciliary axonemes in the presence of cyclic nucleotides and their derivatives revealed that the action of cAMP was correlated with the phosphorylation of 29-kDa and 65-kDa proteins and that the action of cGMP was correlated with the phosphorylation of a 42-kDa protein.

Bioeffects of moderate-intensity static magnetic fields on cell cultures

The interaction of static magnetic fields (SMFs) with living organisms is a rapidly growing field of investigation. However, despite the increasing number of studies on the effects of the interaction of SMFs with living organisms, many gaps in our knowledge still remain. One reason why it is extremely important to deeply understand the true mode of action of MFs on living organisms, is the need to protect human health in consideration of the probable future introduction of new technologies such as magnetically levitated trains and the therapeutical use of MFs (e.g. magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, coupling of MF exposure with chemotherapy). The lack of knowledge of the morphological modifications brought about by exposure to moderate-intensity SMFs prompted us to investigate the bioeffects of 6mT SMFs on different cell types, by means of light and electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and immuno- or cytochemistry. In the present article we report our own and other data from the literature on the morphological studies of the bioeffects of moderate-intensity SMFs. We focus on morphological modifications related to cell shape, cell surface, cytoskeleton, and plasma membrane expression of molecules and carbohydrate residues. The effects of exposure to moderate-intensity SMF for 24 or 48 h, on apoptosis, on apoptotic related gene products, on macrophagic differentiation and on phagocytosis of apoptotic cells in primary cell cultures (transformed or stabilized cell lines) will be also discussed. Moderate-intensity (6mT) SMFs induced modifications of cell shape, cell surface and cytoskeleton, progressively achieved during the entire period of exposure. In general, at the end of the exposure period, the cells had a less flat shape due to partial detachment from the culture dishes or a more round-elongated shape (in relation to adhesion growth or in suspension growth respectively) with many irregular lamellar microvilli, while the morphology of the organelles remained unmodified. In parallel with cell shape changes, the microfilaments and microtubules, as well as the quantity and distribution of surface ConA-FITC and Ricinus Comm.-FITC labelling sites, were modified in a time-dependent manner. Apoptosis was influenced in a cell type-dependent manner: for some cells spontaneous apoptosis decreased while, for others, it increased to about 20% after 24h of continuous exposure. The induction of apoptosis was likely due to the increment of [Ca(2+)]i during exposure. Cell proliferation was only slightly affected. Indeed, in addition to the cell type, the time of exposure was also an important factor in the intensity of the effects produced. Both apoptotic rate and cell and surface shape were influenced by exposure to SMFs when simultaneously administered with apoptogenic drugs. Apoptotic cells were cleared by an efficient and fast process of phagocytosis mediated by specific epitopes, externalized during the formation of the apoptotic cells, on the dead cells and by specific receptors on the phagocytes (both "professional" and "nonprofessional"). The recognition of apoptotic lymphocytes as well as of control cells exposed for at least 24h to 6mT SMF by liver sinusoidal cells was influenced by the cell surface modifications which both apoptotic or normal exposed cells underwent during the induction of apoptosis or SMF exposure. The degree of macrophagic differentiation of human pro-monocytic U937 cells induced by phorbol ester was decreased by exposure to 6mT SMFs, with a consequent fall in cell adhesion and increased polarization of pseudopodia and cytoplasmic protrusions. Differentiation alone, or in combination with exposure to SMFs, affects distribution and quantity of cell surface carbohydrate residues, surface expression of markers of macrophage differentiation, and phagocytic capability. The increasing amount of data reporting on the bioeffects of SMFs is leading researchers to an understanding of how important it is to fully understand the mode of action of MFs on living organisms. Indeed, even if the perturbations of biological systems by SMFs are sublethal at shorter times of exposure, these perturbations could, especially at longer times of exposure, evolve into a progressive accumulation of modifications, whose ultimate effects still need to be clarified.

Mutations in genes encoding inner arm dynein heavy chains inTetrahymena thermophila lead to axonemal hypersensitivity to Ca2+

Calcium-dependent ciliary reversals are seen in ciliated protozoans such as Tetrahymena in response to depolarizing stimuli, but the axonemal mechanisms responsible for this response are not well understood. The model is that the outer arm dyneins (OADs) control the beating frequency while the inner arm dyneins (IADs) regulate ciliary waveform. Since ciliary reversal is a type of waveform change, the model would predict that IAD mutations could affect ciliary reversal. We have used gene disruption techniques to generate several behavioral mutants of Tetrahymena with functional disruptions of various IADs. One such mutant, called KO-6, is missing I1 (the two-headed IAD) and is unable to show ciliary reversals in response to any stimuli due to a loss of axonemal Ca2+ sensitivity [Eur J Cell Biol 80 (2001) 486-497; Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 53 (2002) 281-288.]. In contrast, disruption of 3 one-headed IADs [Liu et al., Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 59 (2004), 201-214] produced mutants, which showed over-responsiveness in bioassays measuring either their depolarization-induced avoiding reactions (AR) in Na+ and Ba2+ solutions or their duration of backward swimming (continuous ciliary reversal or CCR) in K+ solutions. Detergent-extracted and reactivated mutants also showed increased probabilities of CCR at lower Ca2+ concentrations suggesting that the behavioral over-responsiveness of these three mutants in vivo is due to increased axonemal Ca2+ sensitivity. Our data suggest the possibility that the one-headed IADs and the two-headed IAD act antagonistically in vivo and that loss of any one of the one-headed IADs leads to behavioral over-responsiveness due to less resistance to I1-induced reversals.

Membrane potential responses of paramecium caudatum to external Na+

The membrane potential responses of Paramecium caudatum to Na+ ions were examined to understand the mechanisms underlying the sensation of external inorganic ions in the ciliate by comparing the responses of the wild type and the behavioral mutant. Wild-type cells exhibited initial continuous backward swimming followed by repeated transient backward swimming in the Na+-containing test solution. A wild-type cell impaled by a microelectrode produced initial action potentials and a sustained depolarization to an application of the test solution. The prolonged depolarization, the depolarizing afterpotential, took place subsequently after stimulation. The ciliary reversal of the cell was closely associated with the depolarizing responses. When the application of the test solution was prolonged, the wild-type cell produced sustained depolarization overlapped by repeated transient depolarization. A behavioral mutant defective in the Ca2+ channel, CNR (caudatum non reversal), produced a sustained depolarization but no action potential or depolarizing afterpotential. The mutant cell responded to prolonged stimulation with sustained depolarization overlapped by transient depolarization, although it did not show backward swimming. The results suggest that Paramecium shows at least two kinds of membrane potential responses to Na+ ions: a depolarizing afterpotential mediating initial backward swimming and repeated transient depolarization responsible for the repeated transient backward swimming.

One-way calcium spill-over during signal transduction in Paramecium cells: from the cell cortex into cilia, but not in the reverse direction

We asked to what extent Ca(2+) signals in two different domains of Paramecium cells remain separated during different stimulations. Wild-type (7S) and pawn cells (strain d4-500r, without ciliary voltage-dependent Ca(2+)-channels) were stimulated for trichocyst exocytosis within 80 ms by quenched-flow preparation and analysed by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), paralleled by fast confocal fluorochrome analysis. We also analysed depolarisation-dependent calcium signalling during ciliary beat rerversal, also by EDX, after 80-ms stimulation in the quenched-flow mode. EDX and fluorochrome analysis enable to register total and free intracellular calcium concentrations, [Ca] and [Ca(2+)], respectively. After exocytosis stimulation we find by both methods that the calcium signal sweeps into the basis of cilia, not only in 7S but also in pawn cells which then also perform ciliary reversal. After depolarisation we see an increase of [Ca] along cilia selectively in 7S, but not in pawn cells. Opposite to exocytosis stimulation, during depolarisation no calcium spill-over into the nearby cytosol and no exocytosis occurs. In sum, we conclude that cilia must contain a very potent Ca(2+) buffering system and that ciliary reversal induction, much more than exocytosis stimulation, involves strict microdomain regulation of Ca(2+) signals.

Dephosphorylation of inner arm 1 is associated with ciliary reversals in Tetrahymena thermophila

In many organisms, depolarizing stimuli cause an increase in intraciliary Ca2+, which results in reversal of ciliary beat direction and backward swimming. The mechanism by which an increase in intraciliary Ca2+ causes ciliary reversal is not known. Here we show that Tetrahymena cells treated with okadaic acid or cantharidin to inhibit protein phosphatases do not swim backwards in response to depolarizing stimuli. We also show that both okadaic acid and cantharidin inhibit backward swimming in reactivated, extracted cell models treated with Ca2+. In contrast, treatment of whole cells or extracted cell models with protein kinase inhibitors has no effect on backward swimming. These results suggest that a component of the axonemal machinery is dephosphorylated during ciliary reversal. The phosphorylation state of inner arm dynein 1 (I1) was determined before and after cells were exposed to depolarizing conditions that induce ciliary reversal. An I1 intermediate chain is phosphorylated in forward swimming cells but is dephosphorylated in cells treated with a depolarizing stimulus. Our results suggest that dephosphorylation of Tetrahymena inner arm dynein 1 may be an essential part of the mechanism of ciliary reversal in response to increased intraciliary Ca2+.

Effect of serotonin on ciliary beating and intracellular calcium concentration in identified populations of embryonic ciliary cells

Embryos of the pond snail Helisoma trivolvis express three known subtypes of ciliary cells on the surface of the embryo early in development:pedal, dorsolateral and scattered single ciliary cells (SSCCs). The pedal and dorsolateral ciliary cells are innervated by a pair of serotonergic sensory-motor neurons and are responsible for generating the earliest whole-animal behavior, rotation within the egg capsule. Previous cell culture studies on unidentified ciliary cells revealed that serotonin(5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) produces a significant increase in the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) in a large proportion of ciliary cells. Both Ca2+ influx and a unique isoform of protein kinase C (PKC) were implicated in the signal transduction pathway underlying the cilio-excitatory response to 5-HT. The goal of the present study was to characterize the anatomical and physiological differences between the three known populations of superficial ciliary cells. The pedal and dorsolateral ciliary cells shared common structural characteristics, including flat morphology, dense cilia and lateral accessory ciliary rootlets. By contrast, the SSCCs had a cuboidal morphology, reduced number of cilia, increased ciliary length and absence of lateral accessory rootlets. In cultures containing unidentified ciliary cells,the calcium/calmodulin-dependent enzyme inhibitor calmidazolium (2 μmol l–1) blocked the stimulatory effect of 5-HT (100 μmol l–1) on CBF. In addition, 50% of unidentified cultured cells responded to 5-HT (100 μmol l–1) with an increase in[Ca2+]i. To facilitate the functional analyses of the individual populations, we developed a method to culture identified ciliary subtypes and characterized their ciliary and calcium responses to 5-HT. In cultures containing either pedal or dorsolateral ciliary cells, 5-HT (100μmol l–1) produced a rapid increase in CBF and a slower increase in [Ca2+]i in all cells examined. By contrast,the CBF and [Ca2+]i of SSCCs were not affected by 100μmol l–1 5-HT. Immunohistochemistry for two putative 5-HT receptors recently cloned from Helisoma revealed that pedal and dorsolateral ciliary cells consistently express the 5-HT1Helprotein. Intense 5-HT7Hel immunoreactivity was observed in only a subset of pedal and dorsolateral ciliary cells. Cells neighboring the SSCCs,but not the ciliary cells themselves, expressed 5-HT1Hel and 5-HT7Hel immunoreactivity. These data suggest that the pedal and dorsolateral ciliary cells, but not the SSCCs are a homogeneous physiological subtype that will be useful for elucidating the signal transduction mechanisms underlying 5-HT induced cilio-excitation.

PPNDS is an agonist, not an antagonist, for the ATP receptor of Paramecium

Paramecium represents a simple, eukaryotic model system to study the cellular effects of some neuroactive drugs. They respond to the agonist beta,gamma-methylene ATP with a transient depolarizing receptor potential, Ca(2+)-based action potentials and repetitive bouts of forward and backward swimming called 'avoiding reactions' (AR). In vivo [(32)P]ATP binding assays showed saturable [(32)P]ATP binding with an apparent K(d) of approximately 23 nmol l(-1). Prolonged (15 min) exposure to 25 micro mol l(-1) beta,gamma-methylene ATP caused behavioral adaptation and losses of AR, ATP receptor potentials and [(32)P]ATP binding. While screening various ATP receptor inhibitors, we found that the P2X1 'antagonist' pyridoxal-phosphate naphthylazo-nitro-disulfate (PPNDS) is actually an agonist, producing the same responses as beta,gamma-methylene ATP. [(32)P]ATP binding assays suggest that both agonists may bind to the same site as [(32)P]ATP. Cross-adaptation is also seen between PPNDS and beta,gamma-methylene ATP in terms of losses in AR, depolarizing receptor potentials and [(32)P]ATP binding. We conclude that the inhibition caused by PPNDS in Paramecium is due to agonist-induced desensitization. Either this represents a unique new class of ATP receptors, in which PPNDS is an agonist instead of an antagonist, or PPNDS (and other drugs like it) may actually be an agonist in many other cell types in which prolonged exposure is necessary for inhibition.

Inner arm dynein 1 is essential for Ca++-dependent ciliary reversals in Tetrahymena thermophila

Cilia in many organisms undergo a phenomenon called ciliary reversal during which the cilia reverse the beat direction, and the cell swims backwards. Ciliary reversal is typically caused by a depolarizing stimulus that ultimately leads to a rise in intraciliary Ca++ levels. It is this increase in intraciliary Ca++ that triggers ciliary reversal. However, the mechanism by which an increase in intraciliary Ca++ causes ciliary reversal is not known. We have previously mutated the DYH6 gene of Tetrahymena thermophila by targeted gene knockout and shown that the knockout mutants (KO6 mutants) are missing inner arm dynein 1 (I1). In this study, we show that KO6 mutants do not swim backward in response to depolarizing stimuli. In addition to being unable to swim backwards, KO6 mutants swim forward at approximately one half the velocity of wild-type cells. However, the ciliary beat frequency in KO6 mutants is indistinguishable from that of wild-type cells, suggesting that the slow forward swimming of KO6 mutants is caused by an altered waveform rather than an altered beat frequency. Live KO6 cells are also able to increase and decrease their swim speeds in response to stimuli, suggesting that some aspects of their swim speed regulation mechanisms are intact. Detergent-permeabilized KO6 mutants fail to undergo Ca++-dependent ciliary reversals and do not show Ca++-dependent changes in swim speed after MgATP reactivation, indicating that the axonemal machinery required for these responses is insensitive to Ca++ in KO6 mutants. We conclude that Tetrahymena inner arm dynein 1 is not only an essential part of the Ca++-dependent ciliary reversal mechanism but it also may contribute to Ca++-dependent changes in swim speed and to the formation of normal waveform during forward swimming.

The ionic composition of the contractile vacuole fluid of Paramecium mirrors ion transport across the plasma membrane

In vivo K+, Na+, Ca2+, Cl- and H+ activities in the cytosol and the contractile vacuole fluid, the overall cytosolic osmolarity, the fluid segregation rate per contractile vacuole and the membrane potential of the contractile vacuole complex of Paramecium multimicronucleatum were determined in cells adapted to 24 or 124 mosm l(-1) solutions containing as the monovalent cation(s): 1) 2 mmol l(-1) K+; 2) 2 mmol l(-1) Na+; 3) 1 mmol l(-1) K+ plus 1 mmol l(-1) Na+; or 4) 2 mmol l(-1) choline. In cells adapted to a given external osmolarity i) the fluid segregation rate was the same if adapted to either K+ or Na+, twice as high when adapted to solutions containing both K+ and Na+, and reduced by 50% or more in solutions containing only choline, ii) the fluid of the contractile vacuole was always hypertonic to the cytosol while the sum of the ionic activities measured in the fluid of the contractile vacuole was the same in cells adapted to either K+ or Na+, at least 25% higher in cells adapted to solutions containing both K+ and Na+, and was reduced by 55% or more in solutions containing only choline, iii) the cytosolic osmolarity was the same in cells adapted to K+ alone, to Na+ alone or to both K+ and Na+, whereas it was significantly lower in cells adapted to choline. At a given external osmolarity, a positive relationship between the osmotic gradient across the membrane of the contractile vacuole complex and the fluid segregation rate was observed. We conclude that both the plasma membrane and the membrane of the contractile vacuole complex play roles in fluid segregation. The presence of external Na+ moderated K+ uptake and caused the Ca2+ activity in the contractile vacuole fluid to rise dramatically. Thus, Ca2+ can be eliminated through the contractile vacuole complex when Na+ is present externally. The membrane potential of the contractile vacuole complex remained essentially the same regardless of the external ionic conditions and the ionic composition of the fluid of the contractile vacuole. Notwithstanding the large number of V-ATPases in the membrane of the decorated spongiome, the fluid of the contractile vacuole was found to be only mildly acidic, pH 6.4.

Activation of prostacyclin synthesis by mechanical stimulation in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila

We detected a HPLC peak corresponding to 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), a stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI(2)), in [1-(14)C]arachidonate metabolites from the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. Quantitative analysis of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) by enzyme immunoassay revealed that the synthesis and release were rapidly activated by the mechanical stimulation of a short centrifugation. The activation was suppressed significantly by a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, ibuprofen, and was independent of the extracellular Ca(2+). External addition of PGI(2) and its stable analogue, beraprost, caused a transient increase in the tumbling frequency of swimming. Other prostanoids, PGE(2) and PGF(2alpha), have no effect on the swimming. These results indicate that a free-living ciliate, T. thermophila, synthesizes and has a specific sensitivity to PGI(2).

Influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on the swimming behavior of ciliates

Different species of ciliates (Paramecium biaurelia, Loxodes striatus, Tetrahymena thermophila) have been taken as model systems to study the effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (50 Hz, 0.5-2.0 mT) on the cellular level. A dose-dependent increase in the mean swimming velocity and a decrease in the linearity of cell tracks were observed in all wild-type cells. In contrast, field-exposure did not increase the number of directional turns of the Paramecium tetraurelia pawn mutant (d4-500r), which is characterized by defective Ca2+-channels. The described changes indicate a direct effect of low frequency electromagnetic fields on the transport mechanisms of the cell membrane for ions controlling the motile activity of cilia.

Contribution of phosphoinositide-dependent signalling to photomotility of Blepharisma ciliate

The effect of experimental procedures designed to modify an intracellular phosphoinositide signalling pathway, which may be instrumental in the photophobic response of the protozoan ciliate Blepharisma japonicum, has been investigated. To assess this issue, the latency time of the photophobic response and the cell photoresponsiveness have been assayed employing newly developed computerized videorecording and standard macro-photographic methods. Cell incubation with neomycin, heparin and Li+, drugs known to greatly impede phosphoinositide turnover, causes evident dose-dependent changes in cell photomotile behaviour. The strongest effect on photoresponses is exerted by neomycin, a potent inhibitor of polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis. The presence of micromolar concentrations of neomycin in the cell medium causes both prolongation of response latency and decrease of cell photoresponsiveness. Neomycin at higher concentrations (> 10 microM) abolishes the cell response to light at the highest applied intensity. A slightly lower inhibition of cell responsiveness to light stimulation and prolongation of response latency are observed in cells incubated in the presence of heparin, an inositol trisphosphate receptor antagonist. Lithium ions, widely known to deplete the intracellular phosphoinositide pathway intermediate, inositol trisphosphate, added to the cell medium at millimolar level, also cause a slowly developing inhibitory effect on cell photoresponses. Mastoparan, a specific G-protein activator, efficiently mimics the effect of light stimulation. In dark-adapted ciliates, it elicits ciliary reversal with the response latency typical for ciliary reversal during the photophobic response. Sustained treatment of Blepharisma cells with mastoparan also suppresses the photoresponsiveness, as in the case of cell adaptation to light during prolonged illumination. The mastoparan-induced responses can be eliminated by pretreatment of the cells with neomycin. Moreover, using antibodies raised against bovine transducin, a cross-reacting protein with an apparent molecular mass of about 55 kDa in the Blepharisma cortex fraction is detected on immunoblots. The obtained results indirectly suggest that the changes in internal inositol trisphosphate level, possibly elicited by G-protein-coupled phospholipase C, might play a role in the photophobic response of Blepharisma. However, further experiments are necessary to clarify the possible coupling between the G-protein and the putative phospholipase C.

Voltage-dependent reversal of anodic galvanotaxis in Nyctotherus ovalis

Aerobic and anaerobic ciliates swim towards the cathode when they are exposed to a constant DC field. Nyctotherus ovalis from the intestinal tract of cockroaches exhibits a different galvanotactic response: at low strength of the DC field the ciliates orient towards the anode whereas DC fields above 2-4 V/cm cause cathodic swimming. This reversal of the galvanotactic response is not due to backward swimming. Rather the ciliates turn around and orient to the cathode with their anterior pole. Exposure to various cations, chelators, and Ca(2+)-channel inhibitors suggests that Ca(2+)-channels similar to the "long lasting" Ca(2+)-channels of vertebrates are involved in the voltage-dependent anodic galvanotaxis. Evidence is presented that host-dependent epigenetic factors can influence the voltage-threshold for the switch from anodic to cathodic swimming.

Sexual behaviour in Euplotes raikovi is accompanied by pheromone-induced modifications of ionic currents

In the marine ciliate Euplotes raikovi, pheromone released by a complementary mating type (nonself pheromone) induces typical sexual behaviour, whereas self pheromone released by the same mating type generally has no effect. Nonself pheromone evokes a reduction of the mean walking speed by 66 %, a threefold increase in the frequency and duration of long-lasting rest phases and a doubling in the number of side-stepping reactions. Consequently, translocation is strongly reduced and the cells remain in a small area. This could increase the probability of finding a sexual partner for pair formation (conjugation). The usual pattern of rhythmic, spontaneous depolarizations controlling the walking rhythm is absent in nonself-pheromone-stimulated cells. The remaining depolarizations arise from a 4 mV hyperpolarized membrane potential and do not reach the usual amplitudes of 15–20 mV but only of 6–10 mV. In addition, the amplitudes of K+ currents are increased at depolarizations of more than 20 mV by at least 30 %. Hyperpolarization- and depolarization-activated Na+ current amplitudes are increased, whereas the Ca2+ current amplitude remains nearly unaffected.

Simple fluctuation of Ca2+ elicits the complex circadian dynamics of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP in Paramecium

The circadian dynamics of cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) were simulated in Paramecium multimicronucleatum. The mathematical functions determined closely mimic the Ca2+ dependence of adenylate cyclase (AC) and guanylate cyclase (GC) activities as documented in P. tetraurelia. Patterns of cAMP concentration ([cAMP]), cGMP concentration ([cGMP]), and the ratio [cGMP]/[cAMP] were calculated with respect to Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]) fluctuating sinusoidally with a period of 24 hours at three different levels: low, medium, and high. The functions displayed varying patterns of [cAMP] characteristic for [Ca2+] fluctuating at each level, while patterns of [cGMP] and [cGMP]/[cAMP] almost paralleled [Ca2+] fluctuations. Similar patterns were observed for actual [cAMP] and [cGMP] measured during the light/dark cycle in P. multimicronucleatum, grown in axenic media additionally containing [Ca2+] at 25 (low), 100 (medium), or 400 (high) microM, respectively. The coincidence between simulated and measured fluctuations of [cAMP] and [cGMP] suggests that the circadian fluctuations of intracellular [Ca2+] primarily stimulate activities of AC and GC via their different degrees of Ca2+ dependence, which are ultimately responsible for the circadian spatiotemporal organization of various physiological functions in Paramecium.

Oscillating response to a purine nucleotide disrupted by mutation in Paramecium tetraurelia

The purine nucleotide GTP, when added extracellularly, induces oscillations in the swimming behaviour of the protist Paramecium tetraurelia. For periods as long as 10 min the cell swims backwards and forwards repetitively. The oscillations in swimming behaviour are driven by changes in membrane potential of the cell, which in turn are caused by periodic activation of inward Mg2+- and Na+-specific currents. We screened for and isolated mutants that are defective in this response, exploiting the fact that the net result of GTP on a population of cells is repulsion. One mutant, GTP-insensitive (gin A), is not repelled by GTP. In addition, GTP fails to induce repetitive backwards swimming in gin A mutants, although they swim backwards normally in response to other stimuli. GTP fails to evoke oscillations in membrane potential or Mg2+ and Na+ currents in the mutant, although the Mg2+ and Na+ conductances are not themselves measurably affected. A small, oscillating Ca2+ current induced by GTP in the wild type, which might be part of the mechanism that generates oscillations, is also missing from gin A cells. To our knowledge, gin A is the first example of a mutant defective in a purinergic response. We discuss the possibility that the gin A lesion affects the oscillator itself.