The Biochemistry and Physiology of Tetrahymena presents a review of the literature covering the physiology and biochemistry of the ciliate genus Tetrahymena, of which Tetrahymena pyriformis is the most studied species.
Organized into 10 parts, this book first provides basic information about Tetrahymena, which is found in almost any body of water and is so unusual that one can debate quite rationally as to whether it is an animal or a plant. Other chapters are restricted to specific subjects about this organism, namely, carbohydrate, lipid, energy, protein, amino acid, purine, pyrimidine, and nucleic acid metabolism. The organism's biochemical genetics, vitamin and inorganic requirements, and evolution are also shown. This book also explores the effect of radiation, drugs, and hydrostatic pressure on Tetrahymena.
The documented information presented in this book will be sufficient to stimulate even more interest in the organism.

Contenu

Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1 Introduction
Introduction
Taxonomy
Occurrence
Morphology
Ingestion and Digestion
Pattern Formation
Cell Size
Growth Conditions
Synchronization
Literature
References
Chapter 2 Carbohydrate Metabolism
Introduction
Utilization of Carbohydrates
Glycogen
Low Molecular Weight Carbohydrates
Glycolysis
Krebs Cycle
End Products of Carbohydrate Metabolism
Phosphogluconate Oxidative Pathway
Crabtree and Pasteur Effects
Conversion of Lipid to Carbohydrate
Other Aspects of Glyconeogenesis
References
Chapter 3 Lipid Metabolism
Introduction
Requirements
Composition
Metabolism of Fatty Acids and Phosphatides
Tetrahymanol and Sterol Metabolism
Cholinesterase
Phosphonolipids
Synthetic Lipids as Growth Factors
References
Chapter 4 Energy Metabolism
Mitochondria
Respiration
Enzymes Associated with Electron Transport
Cytochromes
Uncoupling Agents
Utilization of Energy
Peroxisomes
References
Chapter 5 Amino Acid and Protein Metabolism
Introduction
Amino Acid Requirements
Proteinases
Protein Biosynthesis
Division Protein
Proteins of Cilia
Characterization of Nonprotein Nitrogen
Arginine, Proline, and the Absence of a Urea Cycle
The Question of a Phosphagen
Serine and Threonine
Glycine and Porphyrins
Methionine and Cysteine
Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine
Lysine, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, and Histidine
Tryptophan and Serotonin
Phenylalanine and Tyrosine
Ubiquinones
Catecholamines
References
Chapter 6 Purine, Pyrimidine, and Nucleic Acid Metabolism
Purine and Pyrimidine Requirements
Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism
Phosphatases
Effect of Purine Analogs
Characterization of Nucleic Acids
Histones
Ribonucleases and Deoxyribonucleases
Biosynthesis of Ribonucleic Acids
Biosynthesis of Deoxyribonucleic Acids
References
Chapter 7 Biochemical Genetics
Nuclei
Conjugation
Genomic Exclusion
Mutants
Mating Types
Immobilization Antigens
Esterases
Acid Phosphatases
Polymorphism
References
Chapter 8 Vitamin and Inorganic Requirements
Introduction
Thiamine and Lipoate (Thioctic Acid)
Riboflavin
Pyridoxal and Pyridoxamine
Panto thenate
Folate (Pteroylglutamate)
Niacin
Biotin
Vitamin B12
Vitamin E
Biochemical Assays
Water
Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride Ions
Orthophosphate
Other Inorganic Ions
References
Chapter 9 Effects of Radiation, Drugs, and Hydrostatic Pressure
Radiation
Repair of Radiation Damage
The Photodynamic Effect
Tetrahymena as a Toxicological Tool
Hydrostatic Pressure
References
Chapter 10 Evolution
Phylogenetic Relationships
Evolutionary Oddities
Loss of Synthetic Ability
References
Author Index
Subject Index