Paramecium - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Protozoologie / German ...

Ochromonas spp. - A small but powerful all-rounder
Thomas Posch, Judith F. Blom
Limnological Station, Institute of Plant Biology, University of Zürich,
Switzerland
Up to date there are more than 600 publications about Ochromonas
spp. (incl. Poterioochromonas), regarding several scientific aspects,
e.g., cell biology, toxicology, biodegradation, ecology, biophysics,
biochemistry, molecular biology, and genetics. In the 60ies / 70ies
most articles concerned biochemical and cellular aspects (ultrastructure)
of Ochromonas and its requirements for vitamins and glucose.
More recently research focussed on the aut- and synecology of this
chrysophyte. The most cited work (188 times, Ford 1953) demonstrates
the requirement of vitamin B12 by Ochromonas. In contrast,
more than 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals (mainly from
the 50ies / 60ies) have never been cited, thus exiting knowledge run
the risk of being ignored or forgotten. In our review we highlight that
this genus is a physiological all-rounder, which blurs the boundaries
between animals and plants. Depending on the cultivation conditions,
Ochromonas behaves like an autotrophic, heterotrophic, osmotrophic
or even cannibalistic organism, able to combine these nutrition
modes. We summarize the impressive spectrum of substances which
are released, used, or degraded by Ochromonas, present data on its
worldwide distribution, and evaluate the impact on food webs.
posch@limnol.uzh.ch
blom@limnol.uzh.ch
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