Characterization of surface structures covering termite flagellates of the family oxymonadidae and ultrastructure of two oxymonad species, Microrhopalodina multinucleata and Oxymonas sp.

Abstract

Summary The surface structures of different oxymonads (fam. Oxymonadidae) were light and electron microscopically investigated with respect to their morphology, chemical nature and distribution in the different oxymonad genera. Two species, Microrhopalodina multinucleata and Oxymonas sp. were focused on and, since ultrastructural reports of oxymonads are scarce, some attention was also paid to their morphology. The cell surface of both species is totally covered with extracellular surface structures (ESS) to which bacteria are attached. The ESS are not detectable in the light microscope, but in the scanning electron microscope a continuous cover composed of circular structures is visible. They are found in indentations of the plasma membrane and consist of a cylindrical, hollow basis on top of which lies a circular lid. Digestion experiments and labeling with lectins and Ruthenium red allowed the conclusion that they mainly consist of carbohydrates and not protein. The presence of ESS seems to be a principal feature of termite flagellates belonging to the genera Microrhopalodina and Oxymonas . The morphology of M. multinucleata and Oxymonas sp. resembles that of other oxymonad species. Their karyomastigonts include an axostyle, a preaxostyle, and two pairs of basal bodies per nucleus. Additionally to the axostyles, a further microtubular rod extends into the rostellum. The numerous large vacuoles with fluffy contents are final stages of digestion vacuoles rather than sites for production of the ESS.