Euglena

Euglena
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryote
Kingdom:	Numa Numa
Superphylum:	Discoba
Phylum:	Euglenozoa
Class:	Euglenoidea
Order:	Euglenales
Family:	Euglenaceae
Genus:	Euglena Ehrenberg, 1830

Euglena is a genus of unicellular protists, of the class Euglenoidea of the phylum Euglenozoa (also known as Euglenophyta). They are single-celled organisms. Currently, over 1000 species of Euglena have been described. Marin et al. (2003) revised the genus to include several species without chloroplasts, formerly classified as Astasia and Khawkinea. Some Euglena are considered to have both plant and animal features. Due to these dual characteristics, much debate has arisen to how they have evolved, and into which clade they should be placed. Euglena were originally placed in the kingdom Protista but now are classified above the kingdom Excavata, which contains both Kinetoplastids and Euglenids.

Form and Function

A Euglena is a protist that can both eat food as animals by heterotrophy; and can photosynthesize, like plants, by autotrophy. When acting as a heterotroph, the Euglena surrounds a particle of food and consumes it by phagocytosis. When acting as an autotroph, the Euglena utilizes chloroplasts, (hence green color) containing Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, and some carotenoid pigments, to produce sugars by photosynthesis. Each chloroplast has three membranes, and exist in thylakoid stacks of three. The number and shape of chloroplasts within Euglenozoans varies greatly due to environmental conditions and evolutionary history. Euglena are able to move through aquatic environments by using a large, rear mounted flagellum for locomotion. To observe its environment, the cell contains an eyespot, a primitive organelle that filters sunlight into the light-detecting, photo-sensitive structures at the base of the flagellum; allowing only certain wavelengths of light to hit it. This photo-sensitive area detects the light that is able to be transmitted through the eyespot. When such light is detected, the Euglena may accordingly adjust its position to enhance photosynthesis. The mobility of Euglena also allows for hunting capability, because of this adaptation, many Euglena are considered mixotrophs: autotrophs in sunlight and heterotrophs in the dark. Euglena also structurally lack cell walls, but have a pellicle instead. The pellicle is made of protein bands that spiral down the length of the Euglena and lie beneath the plasma membrane.

Survivability

Euglena can survive in fresh and salt water. In low moisture conditions, a Euglena forms a protective wall around itself and lies dormant as a spore until environmental conditions improve. Euglena can also survive in the dark by storing paramylon granules in pyernoid bodies within the chloroplast.

Reproduction

Euglenas reproduce asexually by fission, and there has been no existence of sexual reproduction. Reproduction includes transverse division and longitudinal division, which both occur in the active and encysted forms. Acidity and alkalinity have been known to affect reproduction and life spans of Euglenozoans. Life spans also greatly differ between each group of Euglenozoans.

Uses

Euglena is rich in nutrients and contains paramylon. Currently there is one Euglena product already in the market. The product contains Euglena, royal jelly, condroitin, and brewers yeast. The product is advertised as a dietary supplement, an antioxidant, and as a colon cleanser. Researchers are now looking into other possible uses of Euglena such as the application of the protists' paramylon as cosmetics, biodegradable film, and pharmaceuticals.

References

"Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of plasmid-containing neophytes based on USU DNA sequence comparisons and signatures in the USU RNA secondary structure."

Berlin, Springer. 2005. Nutrition and reproduction in euglena. Biomedical and Life Sciences. 52: 367-383.

Campbell and Reece. (2008) Biology (Ed. 8, pp. 580-581).

Campbell, Neil A. and Reece, Jane B. 2008. Biology Eighth Edition. Pearson Benjamin-Cummings. San Francisco, CA.

Kiss, J.Z., E. M. Roberts, R. M. Brown Jr. and R. E. Triemer. 1988. X-ray and dissolution studies of paramylon storage granules from Euglena. Protoplasma. 146: 150-156.

Kusel-Fetzmann, lsa and Weidinge, Marieluise. 2008. Ultrastructure of five Euglena species positioned in the subdivision Serpentes. Protoplasma. 233: 209-222.

"Protozoa Exhibit a Wide Range of Sizes and Morphologies." Tulane University. 18 July 2009 <http://www.tulane.edu/~wiser/protozoology/notes/morph.html>.

Sommer, Joanchim R. 1965. The Ultrastructure of the Pellicle Complex of Euglena Gracilis. The Journal of Cell Biology. 24: 253-257.

Vliet, Kent A. 2008. A Lab Manual for Integrated Principles of Biology Part one- BSC2010L Forth Edition. Pearson Custom. University of Florida.

External links

• Tree of Life: Euglenida
• Biology Corner
• Protist Images: Euglena
• Euglena at Droplet - Microscopy of the Protozoa
• Images and taxonomy
• Effect of Light Intensity on the Lipid Composition of Euglena gracilis
• Mitochondrial trans-2-Enoyl-CoA Reductase of Wax Ester Fermentation from Euglena gracilis Defines a New Family of Enzymes Involved in Lipid Synthesis
• Aliphatic Chains of Esterified Lipids in Isolated eyesptos of Euglena gracilis var. bacillaris1 (pdf)
• Nature, intracellular distribution and formation of terpenoid quinones in Euglena gracilis. (pdf)
• Tryptophan Synthetase in Euglena gracilis Strain G (pdf)
• Lipid Metabolism of Manganese-deficient Algae: I. Effect of Manganese Deficiency on the Greening and the Lipid Composition of Euglena Gracilis Z. (pdf)
• A hydroxy fatty acid dehydrogenase in Euglena gracilis (pdf)
• Comparative studies of biosynthesis of galactolipids in Euglena gracilis strain Z (pdf)
• The Euglena Project