Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 16, 2026

In Vivo Calcium Imaging in C. elegans Body Wall Muscles
Published on: October 20, 2019
Comparative genomics reveals insights into the ultrafast Ca2+-dependent cell contraction in ciliates (Eukaryota, SAR,
Ying Zhang1, Fasheng Liang1, Chunying Xu1
1Laboratory of Marine Protozoan Biodiversity & Evolution, Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China.
Abstract:
Certain ciliate taxa possess a Ca2+-dependent mechanism for ultrafast contraction, in addition to the more common adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent process. In this study, we integrated omics data from 47 ciliate species, focusing on four target ciliate taxa: Vorticellidae, Zoothamniidae, Stentor, and Spirostomum. The spasmin gene, which encodes a key calcium-binding protein, was detected in 17 oligohymenophoreans (13 peritrichs, two peniculians, and two scuticociliatians) and three heterotricheans (one Stentor and two Spirostomum species). Gene family analysis revealed a roughly proportional relationship between genome/transcriptome size and the number of expanded gene families in these four target taxa. Functional enrichment analyses of significantly expanded gene families indicated rapid evolution of genes associated with phosphatase activity, dephosphorylation, signal transduction, metabolism, and transport. These findings provide new insights into the genomic adaptations underlying the unique contractile mechanisms of these ciliates.
Related Concept Videos
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells
Cell Motility through Blebbing
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
The Contractile Ring
A small GTPase, RhoA, controls the function and assembly of the contractile ring. RhoA belongs to the Ras superfamily of proteins. The activation of formins by RhoA promotes...
Smooth Muscle Contraction
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
Microtubules in Signaling

