Question

What are 10 possible chemotaxis experiments using Tetrahymena other than chemotaxis assay, observing number of vacuoles at varying time increments, and studying the contraction rate of vacuoles in different solutions? Also what does the contraction rate of cell vacuoles show in relation to chemorepellents and attractants?

Answer 1

Chemotaxis experiments with Tetrahymena

Chemotaxis — that is oriented locomotion of single cells — was shown by motion analysis of Tetrahymena thermophila.

1. You could compare chemotaxis of cells for their growth media vs. H2O.

2. You could compare starved cells to non-starved cells for chemotaxis to various substances (sugars, amino acids, etc.)

3. You could try and find out what components in the growth media cause chemotaxis (see growth media recipe)

4. Look in the literature for chemotactic substances. Try them with, starved and non-starved cells. There are lots of cool studies in the literature.

5. Look for molecules that may interfere with chemotaxis (organic molecules, cytoskeleton inhibitors, pollutants, herbicides etc.)

6. See in chemotaxis is pH dependent.

7. See if chemotaxis is temperature dependent.

8. Try Ca2+ channel inhibitors and/or K+ channel inhibitors.

9. Effect of Oxytocin and its Analogues on the Chemotaxis of Tetrahymena.

10. To study Effects of hormones on chemotaxis in Tetrahymena.

Chemotaxis by moving cells can be analyzed using a two-chamber capillary assay. In the capillary assay, an outer chamber contains mobile cells while an inner chamber contains a chemical to be tested. If the chemical being tested is a chemoattractant, the cells will migrate into the inner chamber. If it is a chemorepellent, the cells will remain in the outer chamber. The number of cells within the inner chamber after 10-60 minutes can be used to determine whether the chemical is stimulating positive or negative chemotaxis.