Cryptomonadaceae

Cryptomonas ovata Scale bar indicates 10 µm. Specimen from the Algal Culture Collection at the University of Cologne (CCAC), strain number M1097. Link: http://www.ccac.uni-koeln.de/. Sample material courtesy of AG Boenigk, University Duisburg-Essen. The image was built up using several photomicrographic frames with manual stacking technique. Images were taken using Zeiss Universal with Olympus C7070 CCD camera.Image under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). Place name: Protist culture CCAC University Duisburg-Essen (Germany) Latitude: 51.463807 Longitude: 7.005321 Multiebenen-Abbildung, manuell gestapelt. Der Messbalken markiert eine Länge von 10 µm. Exemplar aus der Algenkultursammlung der Universität zu Köln (CCAC), Stammnummer M1097. Link: http://www.ccac.uni-koeln.de/. Das Material wurde freundlicherweise von der AG Boenigk, Universität Duisburg-Essen, zur Verfügung gestellt. Mikrotechnik: Zeiss Axioplan, Kamera: Canon EOS 600D. Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). For permission to use of (high-resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.

Amer, La Rioja, Espaa

Campylomonas (cam-pile-owe-moan-ass) one of the cryptomonad flagellates with olive-green plastids. The inclusions are mostly polysaccharide storage. Two flagella visible at top (anterior) and surface is irregular because of the small skeletal plates that lie under the cell membrane. Differential interference microscopy. data on this strain.

Chilomonas (kai-low-moan-ass), one of the two genera of cryptomonad flagellates which do not have chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically (the dent near the front of the cell is where is opens). Cytoplasm with large numbers of polysaccharide granules. Differential Interference Contrast.

Chilomonas (kai-low-moan-ass), one of the two genera of cryptomonad flagellates which do not have chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically (the dent near the front of the cell is where is opens). Special extrusomes (ejectisomes) form a little cluster around the flagellar pocket (the pocket can not be seen). Cytoplasm with large numbers of polysaccharide granules. This cell slightly distorted. Differential Interference Contrast.

Chilomonas (kai-low-moan-ass), one of the two genera of cryptomonad flagellates which do not have chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically - the flagella can be seen here as the two dark filaments emerging from the anterior (top) of the cell. Cytoplasm with large numbers of polysaccharide granules. Phase contrast.

Chilomonas paramecium Ehrenberg, 1831. Colourless cryptomonads, with stiff elongate-ovate body, 19 to 30 microns long. Two subequal flagella, shorter than the length of the body, insert in an anterior pocket which is surrounded by rows of extrusomes. Small extrusomes are also visible under the cell membrane. The nucleus is located posteriorly to the pocket. A contractile vacuole is located anteriorly and empties into the pocket. Cells contain refractile storage products and often two refractile Maupas bodies. Cells rotate while swimming, and can also swim backwards.

Chilomonas, a colourless (but lecuoplastidic) cryptomonad. The body shape of most cryptomonads is similar, rounded or pointed posteriorly, perhaps with a very slight twist, widest just subapically. There are two flagella which insert into a subapical pocket. The pocket is lined with explosive extrusomes (the type in cryptomonads is called ejectisome), and small extrusomes also lie under the body surface. Body often with abundant polysaccharide materials. This species can form vast numbers - usually in organically enriched low oxygen conditions. Differential interference contrast.

Chilomonas amygdalum Kent, 1880. Colourless cryptomonads, with stiff elongate-ovate body, almond-shaped, somewhat curved towards the ventral aspect, from three to four times as long as broad, flagella subequal, longer than the cell, endoplasm transparent, granular. Length 12.7 microns

Cryptomonas (crypt-oh-moan-ass), a common genus of cryptomonad flagellates with chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically (the dent near the front of the cell is where is opens). The flagella can be seen upper left. Special extrusomes (ejectisomes) form a little cluster around the flagellar pocket (the pocket can not be seen). Off green chloroplasts, and the orange pink item to the right side is a crystalline inclusion encountered in many cryptomonads. With numerous small polysaccharide inclusions. Differential Interference Contrast.

Cryptomonas (crypt-oh-moan-ass), a common genus of cryptomonad flagellates with chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically (the dent near the front of the cell is where is opens). The flagella can be seen upper right. Special extrusomes (ejectisomes) form a little cluster around the flagellar pocket (the pocket can not be seen). Two off green chloroplasts, and the orange pink item to the left side is a crystalline inclusion encountered in many cryptomonads. Differential Interference Contrast.

Cryptomonas (crypt-oh-moan-ass), a common genus of cryptomonad flagellates with chloroplasts. Special extrusomes (ejectisomes) form a little cluster around the flagellar pocket (the pocket can not be seen). Two off green chloroplasts, and the orange pink item is a crystalline inclusion encountered in many cryptomonads. With numerous small polysaccharide inclusions. Differential Interference Contrast.

Cryptomonas (crypt-oh-moan-ass), a common genus of cryptomonad flagellates with chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically. Special extrusomes (ejectisomes) form a little cluster around the flagellar pocket . Off green chloroplasts, and the orange pink items are crystalline inclusions encountered in many cryptomonads. With numerous small polysaccharide inclusions. Phase contrast.

Cryptomonas (crypt-oh-moan-ass), a common genus of cryptomonad flagellates with chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically. Flagella not visible here in this image which emphasises the extrusomes (ejectisomes) that form a little cluster around the flagellar pocket . Off green chloroplasts, and the orange pink items are crystalline inclusions encountered in many cryptomonads. Differential interference contrast.

Cryptomonas (crypt-oh-moan-ass), a common genus of cryptomonad flagellates with off green chloroplasts, and the orange pink item out of focus is a crystalline inclusion encountered in many cryptomonads. With numerous small polysaccharide inclusions. Differential interference contrast.

Cryptomonas, a common cryptomonad flagellate. Prominent extrusomes are seen lining an invaginated canal anteriorly. Two flagella (not well seen in this image) emerge from the canal. The nucleus is seen just posterior to the linear array of extrusomes. This is a relatively large species approximately 45 microns long. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield illumination.

Plagioselmis prolonga has an unusual nucleomorph genomic structure, in that it lacks the ribosomal cistrons thought to be at the ends of all nucleomorph chromosomes. Based on its distant relationship to the only cryptomonad which has had its necleomorph genome sequenced, Guillardia theta, we expect the nucleomorph of P. prolonga to help elucidate the mechanisms behind genome reduction following secondary endosymbiosis.

Plagioselmis prolonga has an unusual nucleomorph genomic structure, in that it lacks the ribosomal cistrons thought to be at the ends of all nucleomorph chromosomes. Based on its distant relationship to the only cryptomonad which has had its necleomorph genome sequenced, Guillardia theta, we expect the nucleomorph of P. prolonga to help elucidate the mechanisms behind genome reduction following secondary endosymbiosis.