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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 3161

Ching Kung; Aerobic Respiration of Kappa Particles from Paramecium aurelia, Stock 51. J.Protozool. 18(2):328-332, 1971

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Kappa particles from killer cultures of stock 51 Paramecium aurelia were purified and their respiration measured polarographically. The slight bacterial contaminations in the kappa preparations were not significant. Freshly collected kappa in dilute buffer at room temperature had an endogenous Q(o2) of 17.0+/-1.6 µl/mg dry weight/hr (mean+/-standard error). The Q(o2) decayed 50% in 5 hr. Among the sugars tested only glucose and sucrose increased the respiratory rate of kappa. The di- and tri-carboxylates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle stimulated the respiration of kappa. KCN, CO and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline N-oxide (HOQNO) inhibited respiration. These findings ensure an organismic status for kappa and justify the belief that it is bacterial in origin.