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Tetrahymena thermophila, a unicellular eukaryote with separate germline and somatic genomes

Authors :
Orias, Eduardo
Cervantes, Marcella D.
Hamilton, Eileen P.
Source :
Research in Microbiology. Jul2011, Vol. 162 Issue 6, p578-586. 9p.
Publication Year :
2011

Abstract

Abstract: Tetrahymena thermophila is a ciliate – a unicellular eukaryote. Remarkably, every cell maintains differentiated germline and somatic genomes: one silent, the other expressed. Moreover, the two genomes undergo diverse processes, some as extreme as life and death, simultaneously in the same cytoplasm. Conserved eukaryotic mechanisms have been modified in ciliates to selectively deal with the two genomes. We describe research in several areas of Tetrahymena biology, including meiosis, amitosis, genetic assortment, selective nuclear pore transport, somatic RNAi-guided heterochromatin formation, DNA excision and programmed nuclear death by autophagy, which has enriched and broadened knowledge of those mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09232508
Volume :
162
Issue :
6
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Research in Microbiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
62556339
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2011.05.001