Cortical cytoskeleton of the flagellateProteromonas lacertae: Interrelation between microtubules, membrane and somatonemes

Summary

The anterior half of the cell surface of the parasitic flagellateProteromonas lacertae is corrugated while the posterior half is covered by hair-like appendages, called somatonemes. In the anterior part, the cortical microtubules are lined by a zig-zag shaped microfibril. Here, these two structures seem to be separated from the plasma membrane. In the posterior half of the cell the somatonemes, analogous to the mastigonemes of chrysophytes, are anchored to the cortical microtubules by paired small deposits of dense material. This was clearly demonstrated by Triton X 100 treatment which solubilized the plasma membrane but left the somatonemes attached to the cortical microtubules. Freeze-fracture images revealed the alignment of clustered intramembrane particles on the P-face of the plasma membrane which correspond to the attachment sites of the somatonemes, seen as dots in thin sections. The ER-derived membrane-associated somatonemes are probably linked to the cortical microtubules by anchoring proteins which are part of the plasma membrane.