Cited by 30Spaceflight effects on biologyVestibular and auditory disordersSlime Mold and Myxomycetes Research

Gravitaxis in unicellular microorganisms

Häder, D.-P.·1999·Advances in Space Research

Abstract

Orientation of organisms with respect to the gravitational field of the Earth has been studied for more than 100 years in a number of unicellular microorganisms including flagellates and ciliates. Several hypotheses have been developed how the weak stimulus is perceived. Intracellular statoliths have been found to be involved in gravitaxis of Loxodes, while no specialized organelles have been detected in other ciliates, e.g. Paramecium. Also in the slime mold Physarum no specialized gravireceptors have been identified yet. In the flagellate Euglena gracilis the whole cell body, which is denser than the surrounding medium, seems to act as a statolith pressing onto the lower membrane where it activates mechanosensitive ion channels. Similar results were obtained for the ciliate Paramecium. In contrast to the flagellate Euglena, several ciliates have been found to show gravikinesis, which is defined as a dependence of the swimming velocity on the direction of movement in the gravity field.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/s0273-1177(99)00965-5

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  • Various single-celled eukaryotes (protists) and ciliated larvae of sponges devoid of neurons can display sophisticated behaviours, including phototaxis, gravitaxis or chemotaxis.

    “Various single-celled eukaryotes (protists) and the ciliated larvae of sponges devoid of neurons can display sophisticated behaviours, including phototaxis, gravitaxis or chemotaxis.”

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Authors
Häder, D.-P.
Affiliations
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
Corresponding author
Häder, D.-P.
Venue
Advances in Space Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1999
Volume
24
Issue
6
Pages
843-850
ISSN
0273-1177 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2000561894
Cited by
30
References
66
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
FWCI
0.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Advances in Space Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Spaceflight effects on biology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Vestibular and auditory disorders
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Slime Mold and Myxomycetes Research
Keywords
gravitaxis, ciliates, flagellates, statoliths, Euglena gracilis, Paramecium, Physarum, mechanosensitive ion channels, gravity sensing, swimming speed
MeSH terms
Animals, Euglena gracilis, Flagella, Gravitation, Locomotion, Motor Activity, Orientation, Paramecium, Physarum, Ciliophora, Gravity Sensing, Eukaryota

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