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Plant and Cell Physiology, 1986, Vol. 27, No. 3 505-513
© 1986

Article

Photokinesis and Photophobic Responses in the Gliding Flagellate, Euglena mutabilis

Michael Melkonian1, Martina Meinicke-Liebelt1 and Donat-P. Häder2

1Bolanisches Inslitut der Universität Schloßgarten 3, D-4400 Münster, Federal Republic of Germany
2Fachbereich Biologie-Botanik der Philipps-Universität Lahnberge, D-3350 Marburg, Federal Republic of Germany

A pronounced photokinesis (as indicated by increases in both percentage of motile cells and average speed of movement) as well as step-up and step-down photophobic responses at light/dark boundaries in the gliding flagellate Euglena mutabilis was studied using time-lapse video-microscopy. The spectral sensitivities of all the observed lightdependent motor responses were similar to each other and showed an activity throughout the whole visible spectrum with maximum peaks at about 410, 450, 470, 530, 580 and 650 nm and a pronounced minimum at about 600 nm. Thus, the photoreceptor pigments markedly differ from the closely related swimming flagellate Euglena gracilis in which a flavin type blue light receptor is supposed to be responsible for the stimulus perception. Light microscopic studies of mucilage distribution and regeneration suggested that the gliding movements are effected by parallel gliding of adjacent pellicular strips while the mucilage produced on the cell surface and transported to the rear end seems to be responsible for adhesion of the cell on the substrate.

(Received November 21, 1985; Accepted January 30, 1986)
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