Kappa organism
In biology, Kappa organism or Kappa particle refers to inheritable cytoplasmic symbionts, occurring in some strains of Paramecium. Paramecium strains possessing the particles ("Killers") liberate into the culture medium a substance lethal to Paramecium not containing kappa particles.
Kappa particles are Feulgen-positive and stain with Giemsa after acid hydrolysis. The length of the particles is 0.2–0.5μ.[1]
While there was initial confusion over the status of kappa particles as viruses, bacteria, organelles,[2] or mere nucleoprotein,[3] the particles are intracellular bacterial symbionts Caedibacter taenospiralis.[4] Caedibacter taenospiralis contains cytoplasmic protein inclusions called R bodies which act as a toxin delivery system.
References
- ↑ Brown, C. H. (1950). "Elimination of Kappa Particles from 'Killer' Strains of Paramecium aurelia by Treatment with Chloromycetin". Nature. 166 (4221): 527. doi:10.1038/166527A0.
- ↑ Kappa Particles in mediLexicon
- ↑ Kappa Particles in McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Dictionary
- ↑ Pond, F. R.; Gibson, I.; Lalucat, J.; Quackenbush, R. L. (1989-03-01). "R-body-producing bacteria". Microbiological Reviews. 53 (1): 25–67. ISSN 0146-0749. PMC 372716
. PMID 2651865.
External links
- Preer, L. B.; Jurand, A.; Preer Jr, J. R.; Rudman, B. M. (1972). "The classes of kappa in Paramecium aurelia". Journal of Cell Science. 11 (2): 581–600. PMID 5076362.
- Preer Jr, J. R.; Preer, L. B.; Jurand, A. (1974). "Kappa and other endosymbionts in Paramecium aurelia". Bacteriological reviews. 38 (2): 113–163. PMC 413848. PMID 4599970.
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