Ref ID : 800
Nathan Dubowsky; Selectivity of ingestion and digestion in the chrysomonad flagellate Ochromonas malhamensis. J.Protozool. 21(2):295-298, 1974
Reprint
In File
Notes
Ochromonas malhamensis cells were allowed to feed on autoclaved Aerobacter aerogenes, biochemically inert polystyrene latex particles of comparable size, shape and density, or a combination of these to determine if this protozoan is capable of phagotrophic selectivity under defined experimental conditions. Electron microscopic examination of Gomori-stained food vacuoles indicated that the type of particle ingested was determined entirely by the type available. Apparently the biochemical or physical configuration of the particle surface is not decisive in particle selection. Gomori acid-phosphatase reaction product, which indicates digestive enzyme activity, was present in all particle-containing vacuoles, suggesting that digestive activity in O. malhamensis is due to the presence material in the vacuole, but not necessarily to the nature of the particle.