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Journal of Cell Science, Vol 87, 349-356, Copyright © 1987 by Company of Biologists
Submitted on September 11, 1986
Accepted on November 24, 1986
1 Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Department of Cell Biology Warsaw 02-093, Poland
Supernumerary microtubules were found in the so-called sensory cilia, in addition to a sensory axoneme. The supernumerary microtubules were not structurally connected to a basal body, but were probably anchored to clusters of dense material inside the ciliary shaft. The frequency of appearance of the supernumerary microtubules was found to be temperature-dependent: the higher the temperature during formation of sensory cilia, the greater was the number of supernumerary microtubules in cross-sections, and the more cross-sections contained them.
The possibility is discussed that the formation of the supernumerary microtubules is not due to formation of new nucleating sites inside the cilium. Instead, the microtubules may be remnants of a previously existing axoneme, separated from the basal body during the formation of a sensory cilium. Some of the microtubules of the released axoneme may persist as the supernumerary microtubules, if capped with dense material or some other structure within the ciliary shaft.
Key words: ciliates, supernumerary mic
otubules, cilia, temperature
Submitted on September 11, 1986
Accepted on November 24, 1986