Reorganization of complex ciliary flows around regenerating Stentor coeruleus

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Ciliary coordination is crucial for fluid transport and locomotion in various organisms.
• Hydrodynamic interactions and basal coupling are known mechanisms for ciliary coordination.
• Unicellular ciliates with large-scale ciliary arrays offer unique models for studying coordination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the emergence of coordinated ciliary beating during the de novo regeneration of the membranellar band (MB) in the ciliate Stentor coeruleus.
• To elucidate the interplay between hydrodynamics and ciliary restructuring in establishing metachronism.
• To highlight the role of ring-like topology in achieving long-range ciliary coordination.

Main Methods:

• Live imaging and tracking of the entire de novo regeneration process of the MB in Stentor coeruleus.
• Analysis of ciliary band formation, elongation, curling, and migration.
• Investigating the influence of hydrodynamics and cellular structure on ciliary coordination.

Main Results:

• The regeneration of the MB in Stentor coeruleus involves distinct stages: formation, elongation, curling, and anterior migration.
• A complex interplay between hydrodynamic forces and ciliary restructuring was observed during regeneration.
• The ring-like topology of the developing MB is critical for establishing long-range metachronism.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals novel insights into the developmental mechanisms underlying coordinated ciliary beating in Stentor coeruleus.
• Ring-like topology is identified as a key factor in achieving long-range metachronism in ciliated structures.
• Findings contribute to understanding ciliary coordination in large unicellular organisms and developmental processes.