Abstract
The fact that some unicellular organisms respond to illumination by accumulating either at the light or dark side of the vessel in which they are contained, has been the subject of scientific study for more than 150 years. The reason for this interest is, of course, the realization that such organisms contain a sensory system that enables them not only to perceive light, but apparently also to determine its direction. As will be seen, recent work has shown that in most cases, the observed accumulation pattern is not in fact a consequence of truly directional responses. Nevertheless, the obvious ability of certain motile protists to exhibit a distinctive behavioral response to stimulation with light, has continued to fascinate researchers to this day.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bamberger, E.S., Black, C.C., Fewson, C.A., Gibbs, M.: Inhibitor studies of carbon dioxide fixation, adenosine-triphosphate formation, and triphosphopyridine nucleotide reduction by spinach chloroplasts. Plant. Physiol. 38, 483–487 (1963).
Bartlett, C.J., Walne, P.L., Schwarz, J., Brown, D.H.: Large scale isolation and purification of eye-spot granules from Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris. Plant Physiol. 48, 881–885 (1972).
Batra, P.P., Tollin, G.: Phototaxis in Euglena I. Isolation of the eye-spot granules and identification of the eye-spot pigments. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 79, 371–378 (1964).
Bendix, S.: Phototaxis. Botan. Rev. 26, 145–208 (1960).
Benedetti, P.A., Bianchini, G., Checcucci, A., Ferrara, R., Grassi, S.: Spectroscopic properties and related functions of the stigma measured in living cells of Euglena gracilis. Arch. Microbiol. 111, 73 – 76 (1976 a).
Benedetti, P.A., Bianchini, G., Chitti, G.: Fast-scanning microspectroscopy; an electrodynamic moving-condenser method. Appl. Optics 15, 2554–2557 (1976 b).
Benedetti, P. A., Checcucci, A.: Paraflagellar body (PFB) pigments studied by fluorescence microscopy in Euglena gracilis. Plant Sci. Letters 4, 47–51 (1975).
Berg, H.C: How to track bacteria. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 47, 868–873 (1971).
Berg, H.C., Brown, D. A.: Chemotaxis in E. coli analyzed by three-dimensional tracking. Nature 229, 500–504 (1972).
Berg, S.P., Krogmann, D.W.: Mechanism of KCN inhibition of Photosystem I. J. Biol. Chem. 250, 8957–8962 (1975).
Böhme, H., Reimer, S., Trebst, A.: The effect of dibromothymoquinone, an antagonist of plastoquinone, on noncyclic and cyclic electron flow systems in isolated chloroplasts. Z. Naturforsch. 26b, 341–352 (1971).
Boscov, J.S.: Response of Chlamydomonas reinhardii to single flashes of light. M. S. Thesis Tufts University (1974).
Bound, K. E., Tollin, G.: Phototactic response of Euglena gracilis to polarized light. Nature 216, 1042 – 1044 (1967).
Brinkmann, K.: Keine Geotaxis bei Euglena. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 59, 12–16 (1968).
Bünning, E., Schneiderhöhn, G.: Über das Aktionsspektrum der phototaktischen Reaktionen von Euglena. Arch. Mikrobiol. 32, 310–321 (1959).
Clayton, R.K.: Primary processes in bacterial photosynthesis. Ann. Rev. Biophys. Bioeng. 2, 131–156 (1973).
Checcucci, A.: Photomovement methodology. In: Primary molecular events in photobiology. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1973.
Checcucci, A.: Molecular sensory physiology of Euglena. Naturwissenschaften 63, 412–417 (1976).
Checcucci, A., Colombetti, G., Ferrara, R., Lend, F.: Action spectra for photoaccumulation of green and colorless Euglena; evidence for identification of receptor pigments. Photochem. Photobiol. 23, 51–54 (1976).
Colombetti, G., Diehn, B.: Chemosensory responses toward oxygen in Euglena gracilis. J. Protozool. 25, 211–217 (1978).
Cramer, W.A., Horton, P.: Recent studies on the chloroplast cytochrome b-559. Photochem. Photobiol. 22, 304–307 (1975).
Creutz, C., Diehn, B.: Motor responses to polarized light and gravity sensing in Euglena gracilis. J. Protozool. 23, 552–556 (1976).
Creutz, C., Colombetti, G., Diehn, B.: Photophobic behavioral responses of Euglena in a light intensity gradient, and the kinetics of photoreceptor pigment interconversions. Photochem. Photobiol. 27, 611–616(1978).
Davenport, D., Culler, G.J., Greaves, J.O.B., Forward, R.B., Hand, W.G.: The investigation of the behavior of microorganisms by computerized television. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. BME-17, 230–237(1970).
Diehn, B.: Phototactic response of Euglena to single and repetitive pulses of actinic light: Orientation time and mechanism. Exp. Cell Res. 56, 375–381 (1969a).
Diehn, B.: Action spectra of the phototactic responses in Euglena. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 177, 136 – 143 (1969 b).
Diehn, B.: Mechanism and computer simulation of the phototactic accumulation of Euglena in a beam of light. Photochem. Photobiol. 11, 407–418 (1970).
Diehn, B., Kint, B.: The flavin nature of the photoreceptor pigment for phototaxis in Euglena. Physiol. Chem. Phys. 2, 483–488 (1970).
Diehn, B.: The receptor-effector system of phototaxis in Euglena. Acta Protozool. 11, 325–332 (1972).
Diehn, B.: Phototaxis and sensory transduction in Euglena. Science 181, 1009–1015 (1973).
Diehn, B.: Cybernetics and the behavior of microorganisms. In: Aneural Organisms in Neurobiology. New York: Plenum 1974.
Diehn, B., Feinleib, M., Haupt, W., Hildebrand, E., Lenci, F., Nultsch, W.: Terminology of behavioral responses in motile microorganisms. Photochem. Photobiol. 26, 559–560 (1977).
Diehn, B., Fonseca, J.R., Jahn, T.L.: High speed cinemicrography of the direct photophobic response of Euglena and the mechanism of negative phototaxis. J. Protozool. 24, 492–494 (1975).
Diehn, B., Tollin, G.: Phototaxis in Euglena. II. Physical factors determining the rate of phototactic response. Photochem. Photobiol. 5, 839–844 (1966).
Diehn, B., Tollin, G.: Phototaxis in Euglena. IV. Effect of inhibitors of oxidative and photophosphorylation on the rate of phototaxis. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 121, 169–177 (1967).
Eckert, R., Naitoh, Y.: Bioelectric control of locomotion in the ciliates. J. Protozool. 19, 237–241 (1972).
Eisenstein, E.M., Osborn, D., Blair, H.: Behaviour modification in protozoa. In: Behavior of microorganisms. London-New York: Plenum 1973.
Engelmann, T.W.: Über die Licht- und Farbenperzeption niederster Organismen. Pflügers Arch. 29, 387–400(1882).
Feinleib, M. E.: Phototacic response of Chlamydomonas to flashes of light. I. Response of cell populations. Photochem. Photobiol. 21, 351–354 (1975).
Feinleib, M.E., Curry, G.M.: Methods for measuring phototaxis of cell populations and individual cells. Physiol. Plantarum 20, 1083–1095 (1967).
Feinleib, M.E., Curry, G.M.: The nature of photoreceptor in phototaxis. In: Loewenstein, W. R. (Ed.): Handbook of Sensory Physiology, Vol. 1. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1971.
Forward, R.B.: Phototaxis by the Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium splendens Lebour. J. Protozool. 21, 312–315(1974).
Froehlich, O., Diehn, B.: Photoeffects in a flavin-containing lipid bilayer membrane and implications for algal phototaxis. Nature 248, 802–804 (1974).
Goessel, I.: Über das Aktionsspektrum der Phototaxis chlorophyllfreier Euglenen und über die Absorption des Augenflecks. Arch. Mikrobiol. 27, 288–305 (1957).
Haeder, D.-P.: Untersuchungen zur Photo-phototactic bei Phormidium uncinatum. Dissertation Marburg 1973.
Haeder, D.-P.: The effect of inhibitors on the electron flow triggering Photophobic reactions in Cyanophycea. Arch. Microbiol. 103, 169–174 (1974 a).
Haeder, D.-P.: Participation of two photosystems in the photo-phototaxis of Phormidium uncinatum. Arch. Microbiol. 96, 255–266 (1974 b).
Haeder, D.-P.: Further evidence for the electron pool hypothesis. The effect of KCN and DSP on the Photophobic reaction in the filamentous blue-green alga Phormidium uncinatum. Arch. Microbiol. 110, 301–303 (1976).
Haeder, D.-P., Nultsch, W.: Negative photo-phototactic reactions in Phormidium uncinatum. Photochem. Photobiol. 18, 311–318 (1973).
Hand, W.G., Schmidt, J.: Phototactic orientation by the marine dinoflagellate Gyrodinium dorsum Kofoid. II. Flagellar activity and overall response mechanism. J. Protozool. 22, 494–498 (1975).
Harayama, S., Iino, T.: Phototactic response of aerobically cultivated Rhodospirillium rubrum. J. Gen. Microbiol. 94, 173–179 (1976).
Haupt, W.: Phototaxis in plants. Intern. Rev. Cytol. 19, 267–299 (1966).
Hildebrand, E., Dencher, N.: Two photosystems controlling behavioural responses of Halobacterium halobium. Nature 257, 46–48 (1975).
Horowicz, P., Caputo, C., Robeson, J.A.: Effects of azide on the electrical properties of frog striated muscle. Fed. Proc. 27, 702–704 (1962).
Kung, C., Chang, S.-Y., Satow, Y., Van Houten, Y., Hansma, H.: Genetic Dissection of Behavior in Paramecium. Science 188, 898–904 (1975).
Lindes, D., Diehn, B., Tollin, G.: Phototaxigraph; recording instrument for determination of rate of response of phototactic microorganisms to light of controlled intensity and wavelength. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 36, 1721–1724 (1965).
Macnab, R.M., Koshland, D. E.: The gradient sensing mechanism in bacterial Chemotaxis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 69, 2509–2512 (1972).
Mast, S.O.: Light and the behavior of organisms. New York: Wiley 1911.
Mikolajczyk, E., Diehn, B.: The effect of potassium iodide on photophobic responses in Euglena; evidence for two photoreceptor pigments. Photochem. Photobiol. 22, 269–271 (1975).
Mikolajczyk, E., Diehn, B.: Light-induced body movement of Euglena gracilis coupled to flagellar Photophobie responses by mechanical stimulation. J. Protozool. 23, 144–147 (1976 a).
Mikolajczyk, E., Diehn, B.: Differential effect of the cationic detergent CT AB on the Photophobie responses of Euglena. Proc. 7th Intl. Congress Photobiol., Rome (1976 b).
Møller, K. M.: On the nature of stentorin. C. R. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg 32, 411–491 (1962).
Naitoh, Y., Eckert, R.: Ionic mechanisms controlling behavioral responses of Paramecium to mechanical stimulation. Science 164, 963–965 (1969).
Neuscheler, W.: Bewegung und Orientierung bei Micrasterias denticulata Breb. im Licht. Z. Pflanzen-physiol.57, 51–172(1967).
Nultsch, W.: Photokinesis in Phormidium uncinatum. Planta 57, 613–617 (1962).
Nultsch, W.: Phototaxis and photokinesis. In: Primitive Sensory and Communications Systems; the Taxes and Tropisms of Microorganisms and Cells. London-New York-San Francisco: Academic Press 1975.
Nultsch, W., Wenderoth, K.: Phototactic investigations in single cells of Navicula peregrina (Ehrenberg) Kuetzing. Arch. Mikrobiol. 90, 47–58 (1973).
Pagni, P.G.S., Walne, P.L., Wehry, E.L.: Fluorometric evidence for flavins in isolated eyespots of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris. Photochem. Photobiol. 24, 373–375 (1976).
Piccini, E., Omodeo, P.: Photoreceptors and phototactic programs in protista. Boll. Zool. 42, 57–79 (1975).
Racker, E., Stoeckenius, W.: Reconstitution of purple membrane vesicles catalyzing light-driven proton uptake and adenosine triphosphate formation. Nature New Biol. 233, 149–152 (1974).
Radmer, R., Kok, B.: Energy capture in photosynthesis; photosystem. II. Ann. Rev. Biochem. 44, 409–433 (1975).
Riedl, G.: Änderung der phototaktischen Reaktionsrichtung bei Chlamydomonas reinhardi durch freie und thigmophobische Umkehr. Zulassungsarbeit, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (1976).
Saji, M., Oosawa, F.: Mechanism of photoaccumulation in Paramecium bursaria. J. Protozool. 21, 556–567 (1974).
Schuldiner, S., Spencer, R.D., Weber, C., Weil, R., Kaback, H.R.: Lifetime and rotational relaxation time of dansylgalactoside bound to the lac carrier protein. J. Biol. Chem. 250, 8893–8896 (1975).
Smyth, R.D.: Genetic control of phototactic aggregation in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Ph. D. diss. University of California, Los Angeles (1971). Ann Arbor: University Microfilms, No.72 11899 (1972).
Song, P.-S.: On the basicity of the excited state of flavins. Photochem. Photobiol. 7, 311–313 (1968).
Sperling, P.G., Walne, P.L., Wehry, E.L.: Fluorometric evidence for flavins in isolated eyespots of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris. Photochem. Photobiol. 24, 373–376 (1976).
Stahl, E.: Über den Einfluß von Richtung und Stärke der Beleuchtung auf einige Bewegungserscheinungen im Pflanzenreiche. Bot. Z. 38, 297–413 (1880).
Stavis, R.L.: The effect of azide on phototaxis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 71, 1824–1827 (1974).
Strother, G.K., Wolken, J.J.: Microspectrophotometry of Euglena chloroplast and eyespot. Nature 188, 601–602(1960).
Taylor, B. L., Koshland, D. E.: Intrinsic and extrinsic light responses of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 123, 557–569 (1975).
Throm, G.: Untersuchungen zum Reaktionsmechanismus von Phototaxis und Kinesis in Rhodospirillium rubrum. Arch. Protistenk. 110, 313–371 (1968).
Tollin, G., Robinson, M. I.: Phototaxis in Euglena. VI. Correlations between ATP production by light and phototactic rates. Bioenergetics 1, 139–145 (1970).
Trebst, A., Burba, M.: Über die Hemmung photosynthetischer Reaktionen in isolierten Chloroplasten und in Chlorella durch Disalicylidenpropandiamin. Z. Pflanzenphysiol. 57, 419–433 (1967).
Tsang, N., Macnab, R., Koshland,D.E.: Common mechanism for repellents and attractants in bacterial Chemotaxis. Science 181, 60–63 (1973).
Walne, P.L., Arnott, H.: The comparative ultrastructure and possible function of eyespots: Euglena granulata and Chlamydomonas eugametos. Planta 77, 325–353 (1967).
Wolken, J. J., Shin, E.: Photomotion in Euglena gracilis. I. Photokinesis. IL Phototaxis. J. Protozool. 5, 39–46 (1958).
Wood, D.C: Action spectrum and electrophysiological responses correlated with the Photophobic responses of Stentor coeruleus. Photochem. Photobiol. 24, 261–266 (1976)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1979 Springer-Verlag, Berlin · Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Diehn, B. (1979). Photic Responses and Sensory Transduction in Motile Protists. In: Autrum, H. (eds) Comparative Physiology and Evolution of Vision in Invertebrates. Handbook of Sensory Physiology, vol 7 / 6 / 6 A. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-66999-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-66999-6_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-67001-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-66999-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive