Sensory perception and transduction of UV-B radiation by the ciliate Blepharisma japonicum.
A key question to answer studying the biological effects of ultraviolet radiation on planktonic micro-organisms is whether they can perceive UV-B radiation as a sensory signal, likewise they do with visible light. We have faced this problem performing an individual-cell analysis of Blepharisma japonicum photomotile responses to UV-B stimuli. Our results on spectral responsiveness and on the effects of a photoresponse inhibitor indicate that B. japonicum is capable to perceive and transduce UV-B radiation as an environmental sensory stimulus, which it escapes from gathering in shadowed areas. Similar UV-B avoidance motile reactions could serve as a behavioural defence mechanism contributing to avoid harmful overexposure to UV-B.
Lenci
F
F
CNR Istituto di Biofisica, Pisa, Italy. lenci@ib.pi.cnr.it
Checcucci
G
G
Ghetti
F
F
Gioffrè
D
D
Sgarbossa
A
A
D000818:Animals; D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D002258:Carbonyl Cyanide m-Chlorophenyl Hydrazone