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Development of the flagellar apparatus during the cell cycle in unicellular algae

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Summary

Recent evidence has shown that algal cells acquire different flagella and a heterogeneous basal apparatus through the prolonged development of these structures over more than one cell cycle. A system for numbering algal flagella and basal bodies, which is based on developmental studies, is discussed along with the various means by which the flagellar/basal body developmental cycle can be determined. We review the information now available on development of the separate components of the flagellar apparatus-this comes particulary from the Chlorophyta and the Chromophyta-and attempt to elucidate any information which may help in phylogenetic comparisons. New data is provided on developmental changes in the cartwheel part of the basal body and basal body-associated connecting fibrils in green algae.

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Abbreviations

Bb:

basal body

d:

right (dexter) root

df:

right fibrils connecting Bb triplets to microtubular and/or fibrous roots

EM:

electron microscopy

F:

flagellum

IMF:

immunofluorescence microscopy

LM:

light microscopy

NBBC:

nucleus-basal body connector

s:

left (sinister) root

sf:

3left fibrils connecting Bb triplets to microtubular and/or fibrous roots. See Nomenclature section of Introduction for the numbering of basal bodies and their flagella; the same numbers apply to Bb-associated d and s roots, and df and sf fibrils

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  1. Botanisches Institut, Lehrstuhl 1, Universität zu Köln, Gyrhofstrasse 15, D-W-5000, Köln 41, Federal Republic of Germany

    P. L. Beech, Kirsten Heimann & M. Melkonian

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  1. P. L. Beech
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  2. Kirsten Heimann
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  3. M. Melkonian
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Beech, P.L., Heimann, K. & Melkonian, M. Development of the flagellar apparatus during the cell cycle in unicellular algae. Protoplasma 164, 23–37 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01320812

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