腹毛类原生动物的射出胞器研究

射出胞器是一类广泛存在于各类原生动物细胞皮层下的致密核心型囊泡。研究此类胞器对于进一步理解原生动物各阶元细胞器水平的演化规律及真核细胞的细胞调控机制具有重要理论价值。本项目拟以纤毛器高度分化的腹毛类原生动物不同种类、各种生理状态下的细胞为主要研究材料，从此类皮层细胞器的基本超微结构、物质构成、胞器功能三个不同角度开展系统研究：应用扫描、透射电镜术及酶细胞化学术等手段揭示射出胞器的基本超微结构特征及类群中的多样性、给出所谓“皮层颗粒”的细胞学定义，同时探索射出胞器在细胞内发生、发射机制以及在特殊生理时期细胞中的分化特征；应用双向凝胶电泳及色谱、质谱等技术检测典型射出胞器射出结构的物质组分和功能性、特异性蛋白类型；利用实验生态手段获取典型腹毛类射出胞器的功能及作用机制。所获结果可为揭示原生动物射出胞器的复杂性和功能、原生动物细胞结构形成和蛋白水平调控的机理提供新的资料。

Extrusive organelles are typical dense core granules that locate in cell cortex of various protozoans. Studying these special organelles is of great significance in further understanding the organelle evolution in protozoa and cell regulation in eukaryotic cells. The proposed project will carry out researches on various taxa and different physiological states of the highly differentiated hypotrichous protozoans to reveal the ultrastructure, composition and function of extrusomes: using scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as enzyme cytochemistry methods to reveal the basic ultrastructure and diversity of these extrusive organelles and define the morphologically so-called "cortical granules”, meanwhile, obtain the development and emission mechanisms as well as the differentiation characteristics in special cell physiological states; using two-dimensional electrophoresis, chromatography, mass spectrometry and other related technologies to detect the components, and functional or specific proteins in the extruded structure of typical extrusomes; using experimental ecological methods to test the functions and action mechanisms of typical extrusomes. The result generated in the project will provide new information for understanding the complexity and functions of extrusomes in protozoans, as well as the mechanisms of cellular structure formation and protein level cell regulation.