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Coherent domains in the streaming cytoplasm of a giant algal cell

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Water and the Cell

Abstract

Giant internodal cells of the charophyte Lamprothamnium respond to hypotonic shock with an extended action potential and transient cessation of cytoplasmic streaming. The macro-structure of streaming cytoplasm was analysed before, during, and after hypotonic shock. Streaming cytoplasm contains coherent, cloud-like macroscopic domains, whose perimeter varies from hundreds to many thousands of micrometres. Some domains avidly associate with the fluorochrome 6-carboxyfluorescein (6CF), and others do not. The 6CF-labelled domains are recognisable through many cycles of streaming, despite constantly changing irregular edges. Domain perimeters were described by a fractal dimension of 4/3, the exponent of a power law fitted to a log-log plot of domain perimeter-area. Following hypotonic shock, the stable pattern of coherent domains enters an unstable phase of coalescence, and discrete domains subsequently amalgamate into stable, extended domains. Instability is associated with Ca2+ influx and Cl- efflux, and a large increase in cell conductance. The electrophysiological K+ state, with greatly reduced conductance, is associated with the new, amalgamated stable state. The results support a concept of cytoplasm as a sponge-like percolation cluster, undergoing transition from discrete to extended domains. Results are discussed in terms of published theories concerning co-operative behaviour of supramolecular water-ion-protein complexes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biophysics, School of Physics, The University of NSW, NSW 2052, Sydney, Australia

    V.A. Shepherd

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  1. V.A. Shepherd
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA

    Gerald H. Pollack

  2. Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Ivan L. Cameron

  3. BioMedES, Aberdeen, UK

    Denys N. Wheatley

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Shepherd, V. (2006). Coherent domains in the streaming cytoplasm of a giant algal cell. In: Pollack, G.H., Cameron, I.L., Wheatley, D.N. (eds) Water and the Cell. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4927-7_3

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