Summary
Living plasmodia of the myxomycetePhysarum polycephalum exhibit cyclic variations of light transmission and fluorescence in close correlation with the rhythmic pattern of cytoplasmic streaming. These oscillations largely reflect changes of the plasmodial geometry due to rhythmic local contractions and dilations. A convenient technique was developed to record continuously the oscillatory pattern under various experimental conditions. The results indicate that protoplasmic pulsations stop or largely decelerate during synchronous nuclear mitosis of actively growing plasmodia. Removal of oxygen reduces the frequency of oscillations while increasing the amplitude; the intracellular ATP level drops by about 40% under these conditions. Treatment with cycloheximide also slows down protoplasmic streaming even at concentrations as low as 0.2 μg/ml. A model is discussed suggesting that protoplasmic shuttle-streaming inPhysarum polycephalum is controlled by an oscillating glycolytic system.
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Sachsenmaier, W., Blessing, J., Brauser, B. et al. Protoplasmic streaming inPhysarum polycephalum . Protoplasma 77, 381–396 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01275716
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01275716