title: Studies on the mechanism of cell elongation in Blepharisma japonicum: 4. Three dimensional construction of the kinetosomal complex and its functional role on cell elongation.
abstract: The kinetosomal complex of a heterotrich ciliate Blepharisma japonicum was investigated at ultrastructural level, with special reference to its cell elongation in response to light stimulation. In serial sections, vacuole-associated microtubules were found to be originated from both anterior fiber sheet and left surface of the anterior kinetosome. These microtubules form a bundle and extend toward the anterior end of the organism. The postciliary microtubular sheet is attached to the proximal half of the posterior kinetosome. Two types of transverse microtubules are present: the anterior 8-9 microtubules arising at the base of the anterior kinetosome and the posterior 2-3 microtubules arising between the paired kinetosomes. Based on these results, a three dimensional model of the kinetosomal complex was proposed and the mechanism of cell elongation in Blepharisma was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Cell Biology, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigenaka