Signal mediated differentiation in the ciliate Tetrahymena vorax. When exposed to an inducer secreted by a prey ciliate, this cell undergoes a dramatic, reversible change in cellular morphology which permits it to ingest protozoa as an alternative food source. Current research includes the characterization of the inducer, identification and characterization of genes and gene products that participate initiation of differentiation, and expression of cytoskeletal proteins during differentiation.
Selected publications
Ryals, P. E., H. E. Smith-Somerville, & H. E. Buhse, Jr. 2002. Phenotype switching in polymorphic Tetrahymena. A single cell Jekyll and Hyde. Int. Rev. Cytol. 212: 209-238.
Ziemkiewicz. H. T., M. D. Johnson & H. E. Smith-Somerville. 2002. Phytate as the sole phosphate source for growth of Tetrahymena. J. Eukaryot. Microbiol. 49: 428-431.
Smith-Somerville, H. E., J. K. Hardman, R. Timkovich , W. J. Ray, K. E. Rose, P. E. Ryals, S. H. Gibbons, & H. E. Buhse, Jr. 2000. A complex of iron and nucleic acid catabolites is a novel signal that triggers differentiation in a freshwater protozoan. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA) 97: 7325-7330.
Shea, C., L. J. Lovelace, & H. E. Smith-Somerville. 1995. Deleya marina as a model organism for studies of bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. J. Industrial Microbiology 15: 290-296.
Shea, C. and H. E. Smith-Somerville. 1994. The effects of phenotype variability on adhesion properties of Deleya marina. Biofouling 8:13-25.
Smith-Somerville, H. E., V. B. Huryn, C. Walker and A. L. Winters. 1991. Survival of Legionella pneumophila in the cold-water ciliate Tetrahymena vorax. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57: 2742-2749.