Porphyrin rings and phospholipids: stimulators of cloning efficiency in certain species of Tetrahymena

P Schousboe, Søren Tvorup Christensen, M Ghiladi, L Rasmussen

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Species of Tetrahymena, including T. vorax, T. thermophila, T. pyriformis, and T. pigmentosa, were tested for cloning efficiency in proteose peptone and in synthetic nutrient media to which were added hemin, protoporphyrin IX, chlorophyllin, or asolectin, an impure mixture of phospholipids. All species could be cloned with high efficiency in the crude media. In unsupplemented synthetic medium the cloning efficiencies were 0-10%, around 50%, around 50%, and 90-100% for T. thermophila, T. vorax, T. pyriformis, and T. pigmentosa, respectively. The first three were all stimulated to 90-100% by addition of the porphyrin or phospholipid compounds mentioned above. Uroporphyrin III and coproporphyrin I and III had no effect. We suggest that cells unable to form clones suffer from a lack of cellular energy. This situation may be alleviated by our additions, certain porphyrin rings may be built into cytochromes and phospholipids may be used as fuel. Thus, the synthetic media used so far for these ciliates have not been optimal.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Eukaryotic Microbiology
Volume39
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)343-5
Number of pages2
ISSN1066-5234
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1992
Externally publishedYes

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