scholarly journals Morphogenesis and dynamics of slime molds in various environments

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Patino-Ramirez ◽  
Aurèle Boussard ◽  
Chloé Arson ◽  
Audrey Dussutour
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Physarum Polycephalum ◽  
Secondary Growth ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Critical Distance ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
External Stimuli

AbstractCells, including unicellulars, are highly sensitive to external constraints from their environment. Amoeboid cells change their cell shape during locomotion and in response to external stimuli. Physarum polycephalum is a large multinucleated amoeboid cell that extends and develops pseudopods. In this paper, changes in cell behavior and shape were measured during the exploration of homogenous and non-homogenous environments that presented neutral, and nutritive and/or adverse substances. In the first place, we developed a fully automated image analysis method to measure quantitatively changes in both migration and shape. Then we measured various metrics that describe the area covered, the exploration dynamics, the migration rate and the slime mold shape. Our results show that: 1) Not only the nature, but also the spatial distribution of chemical substances affect the exploration behavior of slime molds; 2) Nutritive and adverse substances both slow down the exploration and prevent the formation of pseudopods; and 3) Slime mold placed in an adverse environment preferentially occupies previously explored areas rather than unexplored areas using mucus secretion as a buffer. Our results also show that slime molds migrate at a rate governed by the substrate up until they get within a critical distance to chemical substances.Author summaryPhysarum polycephalum, also called slime mold, is a giant single-celled organism that can grow to cover several square meters, forming search fronts that are connected to a system of intersecting veins. An original experimental protocol allowed tracking the shape of slime mold placed in homogenous substrates containing an attractant (glucose) or a repellent (salt), or inhomogeneous substrates that contained an attractive spot (glucose), an eccentric slime mold and a repulsive spot (salt) in between. For the first time, the rate of exploration of unexplored areas (primary growth) and the rate of extension in previously explored areas (secondary growth) were rigorously measured, by means of a sophisticated image analysis program. This paper shows that the chemical composition of the substrate has more influence on the morphology and growth dynamics of slime mold than that of concentrated spots of chemicals. It was also found that on a repulsive substrate, slime mold exhibits a bias towards secondary growth, which suggests that the mucus produced during slime mold migration acts as a protective shell in adverse environments.

scholarly journals Substrate composition directs slime molds behavior

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Patino-Ramirez ◽  
Aurèle Boussard ◽  
Chloé Arson ◽  
Audrey Dussutour
Keyword(s):  
Cell Shape ◽  
Critical Distance ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Exploration Behavior ◽  
External Stimuli

Abstract Cells, including unicellulars, are highly sensitive to external constraints from their environment. Amoeboid cells change their cell shape during locomotion and in response to external stimuli. Physarum polycephalum is a large multinucleated amoeboid cell that extends and develops pseudopods. In this paper, changes in cell behavior and shape were measured during the exploration of homogenous and non-homogenous environments that presented neutral, and nutritive and/or adverse substances. In the first place, we developed a fully automated image analysis method to measure quantitatively changes in both migration and shape. Then we measured various metrics that describe the area covered, the exploration dynamics, the migration rate and the slime mold shape. Our results show that: (1) Not only the nature, but also the spatial distribution of chemical substances affect the exploration behavior of slime molds; (2) Nutritive and adverse substances both slow down the exploration and prevent the formation of pseudopods; and (3) Slime mold placed in an adverse environment preferentially occupies previously explored areas rather than unexplored areas using mucus secretion as a buffer. Our results also show that slime molds migrate at a rate governed by the substrate up until they get within a critical distance to chemical substances.

scholarly journals Author Correction: Efficient microbial colony growth dynamics quantification with ColTapp, an automated image analysis application

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian Bär ◽  
Mathilde Boumasmoud ◽  
Roger D. Kouyos ◽  
Annelies S. Zinkernagel ◽  
Clément Vulin
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Colony Growth ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Analysis Application

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

scholarly journals Emission and biosynthesis of volatile terpenoids from the plasmodial slime mold Physarum polycephalum

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 2872-2880
Author(s):  
Xinlu Chen ◽  
Tobias G Köllner ◽  
Wangdan Xiong ◽  
Guo Wei ◽  
Feng Chen
Keyword(s):  
Physarum Polycephalum ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Terpene Biosynthesis ◽  
Terpene Synthases ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Geranyl Diphosphate ◽  
Monoterpene Synthase ◽  
Cellular Slime ◽  
Volatile Terpenoids

Terpene synthases (TPSs) are pivotal enzymes for the production of diverse terpenes, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes. In our recent studies, dictyostelid social amoebae, also known as cellular slime molds, were found to contain TPS genes for making volatile terpenes. For comparison, here we investigated Physarum polycephalum, a plasmodial slime mold also known as acellular amoeba. Plasmodia of P. polycephalum grown on agar plates were found to release a mixture of volatile terpenoids consisting of four major sesquiterpenes (α-muurolene, (E)-β-caryophyllene, two unidentified sesquiterpenoids) and the monoterpene linalool. There were no qualitative differences in terpenoid composition at two stages of young plasmodia. To understand terpene biosynthesis, we analyzed the transcriptome and genome sequences of P. polycephalum and identified four TPS genes designated PpolyTPS1–PpolyTPS4. They share 28–73% of sequence identities. Full-length cDNAs for the four TPS genes were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli to produce recombinant proteins, which were tested for sesquiterpene synthase and monoterpene synthase activities. While neither PpolyTPS2 nor PpolyTPS3 was active, PpolyTPS1 and PpolyTPS4 were able to produce sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes from the respective substrates farnesyl diphosphate and geranyl diphosphate. By comparing the volatile profile of P. polycephalum plasmodia and the in vitro products of PpolyTPS1 and PpolyTPS4, it was concluded that most sesquiterpenoids emitted from P. polycephalum were attributed to PpolyTPS4. Phylogenetic analysis placed the four PpolyTPSs genes into two groups: PpolyTPS1 and PpolyTPS4 being one group that was clustered with the TPSs from the dictyostelid social amoeba and PpolyTPS2 and PpolyTPS3 being the other group that showed closer relatedness to bacterial TPSs. The biological role of the volatile terpenoids produced by the plasmodia of P. polycephalum is discussed.

scholarly journals Substrate and cell fusion influence on slime mold network dynamics

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Patino-Ramirez ◽  
Chloé Arson ◽  
Audrey Dussutour
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Network Formation ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Slime Molds ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Resilient Networks ◽  
Gain Loss ◽  
Adverse Environments

AbstractThe acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum provides an excellent model to study network formation, as its network is remodelled constantly in response to mass gain/loss and environmental conditions. How slime molds networks are built and fuse to allow for efficient exploration and adaptation to environmental conditions is still not fully understood. Here, we characterize the network organization of slime molds exploring homogeneous neutral, nutritive and adverse environments. We developed a fully automated image analysis method to extract the network topology and followed the slime molds before and after fusion. Our results show that: (1) slime molds build sparse networks with thin veins in a neutral environment and more compact networks with thicker veins in a nutritive or adverse environment; (2) slime molds construct long, efficient and resilient networks in neutral and adverse environments, whereas in nutritive environments, they build shorter and more centralized networks; and (3) slime molds fuse rapidly and establish multiple connections with their clone-mates in a neutral environment, whereas they display a late fusion with fewer connections in an adverse environment. Our study demonstrates that slime mold networks evolve continuously via pruning and reinforcement, adapting to different environmental conditions.

Ca-Histochemistry in slime mold plasmodia

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-131
Author(s):  
Ulrich Dierkes
Keyword(s):  
Physarum Polycephalum ◽  
Carbon Coating ◽  
Freeze Drying ◽  
Freeze Fracture ◽  
Freeze Substitution ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Staining Procedure ◽  
Protoplasmic Streaming ◽  
Intracellular Ca

Calcium is supposed to play an important role in the control of protoplasmic streaming in slime mold plasmodia. The motive force for protoplasmic streaming is generated by the interaction of actin and myosin. This contraction is supposed to be controlled by intracellular Ca-fluxes similar to the triggering system in skeleton muscle. The histochemical localisation of calcium however is problematic because of the possible diffusion artifacts especially in aquous media.To evaluate this problem calcium localisation was studied in small pieces of shock frozen (liquid propane at -189°C) plasmodial strands of Physarum polycephalum, which were further processed with 3 different methods: 1) freeze substitution in ethanol at -75°C, staining in 100% ethanol with 1% uranyl acetate, and embedding in styrene-methacrylate. For comparison the staining procedure was omitted in some preparations. 2)Freeze drying at about -95°C, followed by immersion with 100% ethanol containing 1% uranyl acetate, and embedding. 3) Freeze fracture, carbon coating and SEM investigation at temperatures below -100° C.

Automated Image Analysis Of Nuclear And Cytoplasmic Changes In Exfoliated Cells From Tracheas Treated With Carcinogen

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 220-221
Author(s):  
S.F. Stinson ◽  
J.C. Lilga ◽  
M.B. Sporn
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Pattern Analysis ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Image Analyzer ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Exfoliated Cells ◽  
Neoplastic Lesions ◽  
Analysis System ◽  
Morphologic Criterion

Increased nuclear size, resulting in an increase in the relative proportion of nuclear to cytoplasmic sizes, is an important morphologic criterion for the evaluation of neoplastic and pre-neoplastic cells. This paper describes investigations into the suitability of automated image analysis for quantitating changes in nuclear and cytoplasmic cross-sectional areas in exfoliated cells from tracheas treated with carcinogen.Neoplastic and pre-neoplastic lesions were induced in the tracheas of Syrian hamsters with the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. Cytology samples were collected intra-tracheally with a specially designed catheter (1) and stained by a modified Papanicolaou technique. Three cytology specimens were selected from animals with normal tracheas, 3 from animals with dysplastic changes, and 3 from animals with epidermoid carcinoma. One hundred randomly selected cells on each slide were analyzed with a Bausch and Lomb Pattern Analysis System automated image analyzer.

Progress In The Practical Application Of Automated Image Analysis To Tem Negatives

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 214-217
Author(s):  
F. A. Heckman ◽  
E. Redman ◽  
J.E. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Image Quality ◽  
Exposure Time ◽  
Image Contrast ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
High Image Quality ◽  
Qualitative Evidence ◽  
Comprehensive Study

In our initial publication on this subject1) we reported results demonstrating that contrast is the most important factor in producing the high image quality required for reliable image analysis. We also listed the factors which enhance contrast in order of the experimentally determined magnitude of their effect. The two most powerful factors affecting image contrast attainable with sheet film are beam intensity and KV. At that time we had only qualitative evidence for the ranking of enhancing factors. Later we carried out the densitometric measurements which led to the results outlined below.Meaningful evaluations of the cause-effect relationships among the considerable number of variables in preparing EM negatives depend on doing things in a systematic way, varying only one parameter at a time. Unless otherwise noted, we adhered to the following procedure evolved during our comprehensive study:Philips EM-300; 30μ objective aperature; magnification 7000- 12000X, exposure time 1 second, anti-contamination device operating.

Interfacing of a TEM/STEM System to a Computer

1981 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 250-251
Author(s):  
P. Hagemann
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Analytical Electron Microscopy ◽  
Signal Beam ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Beam Deflection ◽  
External Control ◽  
Computer Input ◽  
Instrument Control ◽  
Data Acquisition And Processing

The use of computers in the analytical electron microscopy today shows three different trends (1) automated image analysis with dedicated computer systems, (2) instrument control by microprocessors and (3) data acquisition and processing e.g. X-ray or EEL Spectroscopy.While image analysis in the T.E.M. usually needs a television chain to get a sequential transmission suitable as computer input, the STEM system already has this necessary facility. For the EM400T-STEM system therefore an interface was developed, that allows external control of the beam deflection in TEM as well as the control of the STEM probe and video signal/beam brightness on the STEM screen.The interface sends and receives analogue signals so that the transmission rate is determined by the convertors in the actual computer periphery.

Characterization of a Motile Cellular Domain Arising During the Amoebo-Flagellate Transformation of Physarum Polycephalum

1980 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 552-553
Author(s):  
K.I. Pagh ◽  
M.R. Adelman
Keyword(s):  
Cell Shape ◽  
Physarum Polycephalum ◽  
Slime Mold ◽  
Live Cells ◽  
Cellular Domain

Unicellular amoebae of the slime mold Physarum polycephalum undergo marked changes in cell shape and motility during their conversion into flagellate swimming cells (l). To understand the processes underlying motile activities expressed during the amoebo-flagellate transformation, we have undertaken detailed investigations of the organization, formation and functions of subcellular structures or domains of the cell which are hypothesized to play a role in movement. One focus of our studies is on a structure, termed the “ridge” which appears as a flattened extension of the periphery along the length of transforming cells (Fig. 1). Observations of live cells using Nomarski optics reveal two types of movement in this region:propagation of undulations along the length of the ridge and formation and retraction of filopodial projections from its edge. The differing activities appear to be associated with two characteristic morphologies, illustrated in Fig. 1.

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