Myzocytosis

Myzozytose (from the Greek : myzein ( μυζεῖν ) "suck" and kytos ( κύτος ) "container", in this case "cell") is a feeding method of some heterotrophic organisms . The myzocytic protozoa pierces the cell envelope of the prey cell with a hose or tube and sucks out the cell contents.

The extracted cell contents are enclosed in a vacuole and digested. With some dinoflagellates , however, it can be observed that chloroplasts in particular are retained and continue to function as kleptoplastids . This kleptoplasty plays an important role in explaining the endosymbiotic theory .

Examples

A classic example of myzocytosis is the feeding method of the little-known ciliate didinium . This suctory feeds on myzocytosis alone.

Many thecate dinoflagellates such as Dinophysis also use myzoocytosis to feed on prey cells that are significantly larger than themselves. In Pfiesteria , which besides plankton also infects cells of fish, the effect can be so massive that the fish can get through the Skin injury die.

swell

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Kiyotaka Takishitaa, Kazuhiko Koikeb, Tadashi Maruyamaa and Takehiko Ogatab (2002). Molecular Evidence for Plastid Robbery (Kleptoplastidy) in Dinophysis, a Dinoflagellate causing Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning . Protist, Vol. 153, 293-302.
2. ↑ Vogelbein, Wolfgang K., Vincent J. Lovko, Jeffrey D. Shields, Kimberly S. Reece, Patrice L. Mason, Leonard W. Haas and Calvin C. Walker (2002): Pfiesteria shumwayae kills fish by micropredation not exotoxin secretion . Nature 418, 967-970.

literature

• Hausmann, K .; Hülsmann, R .; Radek, R .: Protistology. 3. complete revised Ed., E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagbuchhandlung. Berlin, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-510-65208-8 .