ArticleThe Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology2020
Carotenoids in the eyespot apparatus are required for triggering phototaxis in Euglena gracilis.
Article in The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Reduction of SEM charging artefacts in native cryogenic biological samples.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Photomorphogenic and Biochemical Effects of Radiation and Nitrate Availability on the Red AlgaPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Light-controlled soft bio-microrobot.Light, science & applications · 2024Article
- High-efficiency genome editing by Cas12a ribonucleoprotein complex in Euglena gracilis.Microbial biotechnology · 2024Article
- Illuminating the diversity of carotenoids in microalgal eyespots and phototaxis.Plant signaling & behavior · 2023Review
- Zeaxanthin is required for eyespot formation and phototaxis in Euglena gracilis.Plant physiology · 2023Article
- Algal Ocelloids and Plant Ocelli.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Review
- Regeneration of the Eyespot and Flagellum inPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Temporal Evolution of the Gravitaxis ofPlants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Diverse Biosynthetic Pathways and Protective Functions against Environmental Stress of Antioxidants in Microalgae.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Review
- Easy ultrastructural insight into the internal morphology of biological specimens by Atomic Force Microscopy.Scientific reports · 2021Article
- The Glow Up: Optimizing Growth Conditions and Carotenoid Profiling in Euglena gracilis.The Journal of eukaryotic microbiologyArticle
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Authors and funding
11 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Carotenoids are the most universal and most widespread pigments in nature. They have played pivotal roles in the evolution of photosensing mechanisms in microbes and of vision in animals. Several groups of phytoflagellates developed a photoreceptive organelle called the eyespot apparatus (EA) consisting of two separable components: the eyespot, a cluster of carotenoid-rich globules that acts as a reflector device, and actual photoreceptors for photobehaviors. Unlike other algal eyespots, the eyespot of Euglenophyta lacks reflective properties and is generally considered to act as a shading device for the photoreceptor (paraflagellar body, PFB) for major photomovements. However, the function of the eyespot of Euglenophyta has not yet been fully proven. Here, we report that the blocking carotenoid biosynthesis in Euglena gracilis by suppressing the phytoene synthase gene (crtB) caused a defect in eyespot function resulting in a loss of phototaxis. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy suggested that EgcrtB-suppressed cells formed eyespot globules but had a defect in the accumulation of carotenoids in those packets. Motion analysis revealed the loss of phototaxis in EgcrtB-suppressed cells: a defect in the initiation of turning movements immediately after a change in light direction, rather than a defect in the termination of cell turning at the appropriate position due to a loss of the shading effect on the PFB. This study revealed that carotenoids are essential for light perception by the EA for the initiation of phototactic movement by E. gracilis, suggesting one possible photosensory role of carotenoids in the EA for the phototaxis.
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