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Physiological studies on the mechanisms underlying the chemoreception in unicellular organisms

Research Project

Project/Area Number 09640802
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 動物生理・代謝
Research InstitutionUniversity of Tsukuba

Principal Investigator

OAMI Kazunori  Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Assistant professor, 生物科学系, 講師 (10223710)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) TAKAHASHI Mihoko  Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Professor, 生物科学系, 教授 (90006453)
Project Period (FY) 1997 – 1999
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1999)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000)
Fiscal Year 1999: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 1998: ¥500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000)
Fiscal Year 1997: ¥2,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,300,000)
KeywordsParamecium / Chemoreception / Chemotaxis / Receptor potential
Research Abstract

1, Mechanisms underlying the chemoreception of Paramecium to quinine. By employing voltage clamp and ion substitution techniques, generation mechanisms of depolarizing and the hyperpolarizing quinine receptor potentials in Paramecium were examined. The depolarizing receptor potential is produced by activation of Ca channels while the hyperpolarizing receptor potential by K channels.b 2, Mechanisms underlying the chemoreception of Paramecium to alkaloids. Paramecium produced a depolarizing receptor potential in response to an application of chroloquine, strychnine or brucine at the anterior end of the cell, while a hyperpolarizing receptor potential to an application of these alkaloids at the posterior end. By examining the cross adaptation between these chemicals, it was found that these three alkaloids are received through the same pathway. The pathway is distinct from that for quinine. 3, Mechanisms of the chemoreception of Paramecium to the external ions.Membrane potential responses controlling the backward swimming of Paramecium in the K-rich solution were examined. The cell produced a sustained depolarization in response to an application of K-rich solution. The Ca conductance responsible for the backward swimming appeared as a prolongation of the depolarizing response. 4, Characteristics of membrane electric properties of Paramecium mutants with defects in chemoreception. Mechanisms underlying the prolonged backward swimming of Kag mutant of Paramecium to K-rich solution were examined. Membrane current responses corresponding to the action potential exhibited by Kag were almost identical to those exhibited by the wild type. However, inactivation time course of the K-dependent Ca conductance of Kag was10 times slower than that of the wild type. Kag shows prolonged backward swimming in the K-rich solution due to abnormal inactivation kinetics of the K-dependent Ca conductance.

Report

(4 results)
  • 1999 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1998 Annual Research Report
  • 1997 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (6 results)

All Other

All Publications (6 results)

  • [Publications] Oami K.: "Membrane potential responses of Paramecium caudatum to bitter substances : exsistence of multiple pathways for bitter responses"J. Exp. Biol.. 201. 13-20 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Oami K.: "Ionic mechanisms of depolarizing and hyperpolarizing quinine receptor potentials in Paramecium caudatum"J. Comp. Physiol. A. 182. 403-409 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Oami, K.: "Membrane potential responses of Paramecium caudatum to bitter substances : existence of multiple pathways for bitter responses."J. Exp. Biol.. 201. 13-20 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Oami, K.: "Ionic mechanisms of depolarizing and hyperpolarizing quinine receptor potentials in Paramecium caudatum."J. Comp. Physiol. A. 182. 403-409 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1999 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] K.Oami: "Membrane potential responses of Paramecium caudatum to bitter substances ; exsistence of multiple pathways for bitter responses." Journal of Experimental Biology. 201. 13-20 (1998)

    • Related Report
      1997 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] K.Oami: "Ionic mechanisms of depolarizing and hyperpolarizing quinine receptor potentials in Paramecium caudatum" Journal of Comparative Physiology A. 182. 403-409 (1998)

    • Related Report
      1997 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1997-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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