2. Academic Validation
  3. Dynamic shape-shifting of the single-celled eukaryotic predator Lacrymaria via unconventional cytoskeletal components

Dynamic shape-shifting of the single-celled eukaryotic predator Lacrymaria via unconventional cytoskeletal components

  • Curr Biol. 2024 Nov 4;34(21):4869-4883.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.09.003.
Weiwei Qin 1,  Che Hu 2,  Siyu Gu 1,  Jing Zhang 3,  Chuanqi Jiang 3,  Xiaocui Chai 3,  Zaitian Liao 1,  Mingkun Yang 3,  Fang Zhou 3,  Dingbang Kang 1,  Tingting Pan 1,  Yuan Xiao 3,  Kai Chen 3,  Guangying Wang 3,  Feng Ge 3,  Kaiyao Huang 3,  Chengcai Zhang 3,  Alan Warren 4,  Jie Xiong 5,  Wei Miao 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 80 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100049, China.
  • 2 Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; Harbin Normal University, No. 1 Shida Road, Limin Economic Development Zone, Harbin 150025, Heilongjiang, China.
  • 3 Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China.
  • 4 Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
  • 5 Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture (CAS), No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China. Electronic address: xiongjie@ihb.ac.cn.
  • 6 Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture (CAS), No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, No. 7 Donghu South Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430072, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, No. 1 Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China. Electronic address: miaowei@ihb.ac.cn.
PMID: 39353425 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.09.003
Abstract

Eukaryotic cells depend on dynamic changes in shape to fulfill a wide range of cellular functions, maintain essential biological processes, and regulate cellular behavior. The single-celled, predatory ciliate Lacrymaria exhibits extraordinary dynamic shape-shifting using a flexible "neck" that can stretch 7-8 times the length of its body to capture prey. The molecular mechanism behind this morphological change remains a mystery. We have observed that when in an active state, Lacrymaria repeatedly extends and contracts its neck to enable 360-degree space search and prey capture. This remarkable morphological change involves a unique actin-myosin system rather than the CA2+-dependent system found in Other contractile ciliates. Two cytoskeletons are identified in the cortex of the Lacrymaria cell, namely the myoneme Cytoskeleton and the microtubule Cytoskeleton. The myoneme Cytoskeleton is composed of centrin-myosin proteins, exhibiting distinct patterns between the neck and body, with their boundary seemingly associated with the position of the macronucleus. A novel giant protein forming a ladder-like structure was discovered as a component of the microtubule Cytoskeleton. Thick centrin-myosin fibers are situated very close to the right side of the ladders in the neck but are far away from such structures in the body. This arrangement enables the decoupling of the neck and body. Plasmodium-like unconventional actin has been discovered in Lacrymaria, and this may form highly dynamic short filaments that could attach to the giant protein and Myosin, facilitating coordination between the two cytoskeletons in the neck. In summary, this fascinating organism employs unconventional cytoskeletal components to accomplish its extraordinary dynamic shape-shifting.

Keywords

cell movement; cell shape change; cellular behavior; centrin-myosin myoneme; ciliate; cytoskeleton; giant protein; protists; unconventional actin.

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