Cytoplasmic streaming direction reverses in dividing Paramecium bursaria

Abstract

Using the interference-contrast videomicroscopy the speed of cytoplasmic streaming was measured during the sequence of division stages in thigmotactically settled specimens of Paramecium bursaria. The speed of cytoplasmic flow gradually decreased during the first stages of binary fission and movement became indistinguishable at stage D(3). Almost at the same time cytoplasm started to move in the opposite direction, pushing or pulling the dividing micronucleus into the prospective posterior daughter cell and eventually stopped at stage D(5)-D(6). Further cell division events proceeded without detectable movement of cytoplasmic components. Cytoplasmic streaming in the normal interphase route was gradually restored in daughter cells about 30-40 min after cell separation. During the whole period of binary fission phagocytosis was arrested. Transportation and participation in the positioning of prospective micronuclei in daughter cells seems to be the main function of cytoplasmic streaming activity in cell division of Paramecium bursaria. The possible relationship between the stages of cytoskeleton transitions and the kinetics of cytoplasmic streaming associated with cell divison is discussed.