Euplotes (Dorsoventrally‐Flattened Ciliates)

Klaus Heckmann, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
Hans‐Werner Kuhlmann, University of Münster, Münster, Germany

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001965

Euplotes is a dorsoventrally flattened ciliate with an extreme difference in the ciliature of the dorsal and ventral surfaces. Over 50 species of this genus are known. They live in freshwater and marine habitats and have frequently been used in genetic and experimental work.

Keywords: protozoa; mating types; pheromones; nuclear dimorphism; macronuclear chromosomes

Figure 1. Euplotes octocarinatus. (a) A cell viewed from the ventral side. The buccal overture is triangular in shape and the buccal cavity extends about halfway down the length of the cell. The bases of the transverse cirri are situated in deep grooves. The paroral membranelle is situated beneath the right lip of the buccal cavity. The adoral zone of membranelles is composed of about 40 membranelles. One row of dorsal cilia is visible on the left margin of this cell. (b) Macro- and micronucleus viewed from the ventral side. Two replication bands have started to travel through the macronucleus, replicating its DNA.
Figure 2. Conjugant pairs of Euplotes octocarinatus.
Figure 3. Summary of the nuclear divisions following fertilization and of the main stages of macronuclear anlagen development. Degenerating nuclei are represented by open circles. Key: ma, macronucleus; ma anl, macronuclear anlage; mi, micronucleus; rb, replication band; s, synkaryon. From Kuhlmann and Heckmann (1991).
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 References
    Curds CR (1975) A guide to the species of the genus Euplotes (Hypotrichida, Ciliatea). Bulletin of The British Museum (Natural History) Zoology 28(1): 1–61.
    Frankel J (1973) The positioning of ciliary organelles in hypotrich ciliates. Journal of Protozoology 20: 8–18.
    Heckmann K (1964) Experimentelle Untersuchungen an Euplotes crassus. I. Paarungssystem, Konjugation und Determination der Paarungstypen. Zeitschrift für Vererbungslehre 95: 114–124.
    Heckmann K (1967) Age-dependent intraclonal conjugation in Euplotes crassus. Journal of Experimental Zoology 165: 269–278.
    Heckmann K (1992) Über Pheromone und Pheromongene bei Ciliaten: auf dem Weg zu einem molekularen Verständnis der Konjugation. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft 85(2): 185–200.
    Heckmann K and Kuhlmann H-W (1986) Mating types and mating type substances in Euplotes octocarinatus. Journal of Experimental Zoology 237: 87–96.
    Kuhlmann H-W and Heckmann K (1989) Adolescence in Euplotes octocarinatus. Journal of Experimental Zoology 251: 316–328.
    Kuhlmann H-W and Heckmann K (1991) Nuclear processes in Euplotes octocarinatus during conjugation. European Journal of Protistology 26: 370–386.
    Kuhlmann H-W, Brünen-Nieweler C and Heckmann K (1997) Pheromones of the ciliate Euplotes octocarinatus not only induce conjugation but also function as chemoattractants. Journal of Experimental Zoology 277: 38–48.
    book Luporini P, Miceli C, Ortenzi C and Vallesi A (1996) "Ciliate pheromones". In: Csaba G and Müller WEG (eds) Signaling Mechanisms in Protozoa and Invertebrates, pp. 80–104. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
    book Miyake A (1996) "Fertilization and sexuality in ciliates". In: Hausmann K and Bradbury PC (eds) Ciliates: Cells as Organisms, pp. 243–290. Stuttgart, Germany: Gustav Fischer-Verlag.
    Prescott DM (1994) The DNA of ciliated protozoa. Microbiological Reviews 58: 233–267.
    book Schlegel M and Eisler K (1996) "Evolution of ciliates". In: Hausmann K and Bradbury PC (eds) Ciliates: Cells as Organisms, pp. 73–94. Stuttgart, Germany: Gustav Fischer-Verlag.
 Further Reading
    book Grell KG (1973) Protozoology. Berlin: Springer-Verlag.
    book Hausmann K and Bradbury PC (eds) (1996) Ciliates: Cells as Organisms. Stuttgart, Germany: Gustav Fischer-Verlag.
    book Lynn DH and Corliss JO (1991) "Ciliophora". In: Harrison FW and Corliss JO (eds) Microscopic Anatomy of Invertebrates, vol. 1: Protozoa, pp. 333–467. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
    book Nanney DL (1980) Experimental Ciliatology: An Introduction to Genetic and Developmental Analysis in Ciliates. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

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Article Title: Euplotes (Dorsoventrally‐Flattened Ciliates)
 
How to Cite close
Heckmann, Klaus, and Kuhlmann, Hans‐Werner(Apr 2001) Euplotes (Dorsoventrally‐Flattened Ciliates). In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0001965]