Study published in PNAS reveals that Euplotes gigatrox can alter its body, abandon bacteria, and turn genetically identical individuals into food.
A single-celled microorganism surprised researchers by demonstrating an extreme capacity for bodily and behavioral transformation.
The Euplotes gigatrox can grow more than double, change its body shape, alter its locomotion, and start devouring cells of its own species.
The behavior was recorded in cloned populations maintained in the laboratory, where all analyzed individuals were genetically identical.
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The results were presented in a study published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, or PNAS.
According to the researchers, the transformation does not occur in the entire population. Only a small portion of the cells assumes the giant and cannibal form.
Transformation creates a completely different predator
In its conventional state, the Euplotes gigatrox has a small, elongated body adapted to consuming bacteria.
The microorganism uses hair-like structures called cilia to produce water currents around the cell.
These currents direct food particles to the organism, allowing it to capture bacteria present in the environment.
However, some cells undergo a profound change and assume a form described by researchers as supergiant.
The body becomes more robust, while the length exceeds twice the size observed in the conventional stage.
The structures responsible for feeding also increase. Thus, the organism stops consuming only microscopic particles.
According to Patrick Keeling, a cell biologist at the University of British Columbia, the difference between the forms is impressive under the microscope.
Supergiant abandons bacteria and devours clones
After the transformation, the microorganism stops feeding on bacteria and starts hunting smaller cells of its own species.
During the experiments, the researchers observed that each supergiant could swallow approximately one prey every ten minutes.
The attack occurs in an unusual manner. The giant cell passes over the smaller individual before completely incorporating it.
This behavior represents a form of cannibalism among clones, as both predator and prey have identical genetic composition.
Although other ciliates also exhibit cannibalistic practices, scientists consider the transformation of Euplotes gigatrox particularly remarkable.
The change involves size, shape, feeding, speed, and locomotion, practically creating a new life stage.
Changes affect more than 42% of the analyzed genes
The transformation is not limited to the microorganism’s external appearance.
Scientists identified differences in the expression of more than 42% of the analyzed genes between conventional and giant cells.
The result indicates that the process depends on a broad and carefully controlled molecular reorganization.
Therefore, the growth does not occur randomly. The cell activates specific mechanisms to develop new predatory capabilities.
Researchers have not yet discovered what factor initiates this change.
Hypotheses related to lack of food and excess individuals were discarded during the experiments.
Other elements still need to be investigated to explain why only some cells undergo the transformation.
Giant body increases speed but limits movements
The supergiant stage offers important advantages for capturing larger prey.
These cells can move more quickly, enhancing their ability to reach smaller individuals.
The new body, however, also presents limitations. The giants walk only on surfaces and tend to follow circular paths.
Conventional cells, on the other hand, can swim over greater distances and explore wider spaces.
According to Ben Larson, a researcher at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and co-author of the study, a larger body requires more energy.
The ability to ingest large prey can offset this metabolic expenditure and offer advantages during reproduction.
Giant cell can generate nine normal individuals
The transformation of Euplotes gigatrox is not permanent.
The supergiants can maintain the new format by dividing into two similarly sized cells.
The return to the conventional stage occurs through asymmetric cell divisions.
A single giant cell can produce up to nine normal cells in just 24 hours.
The new individuals, however, have less capacity to immediately return to the cannibal stage.
The authors suggest that this behavior may represent a “cooling” period before another transformation.
Evolutionary balance prevents a population formed only by giants
Only a small portion of the population takes on the supergiant form.
Researchers believe that this limitation may be related to an evolutionary balance essential for the species’ survival.
A supergiant cannot devour another equally transformed individual.
A population composed only of giant cells would quickly lose its main food source.
The strategy, therefore, depends on the existence of smaller cells available to be consumed.
Similar transformations have also independently emerged in other groups of ciliates throughout evolution.
Unicellular organism reveals complex behavior
The study demonstrates that organisms formed by just one cell can exhibit much more sophisticated behaviors than they seem.
The Euplotes gigatrox can alter its structure, modify its feeding, develop new forms of locomotion, and return to the original stage.
This ability creates a temporary hunting and survival strategy similar to behaviors observed in animals.
Despite the discoveries, scientists still need to understand the trigger responsible for the emergence of the supergiants.
What do you find more surprising: a unicellular organism being able to devour its own clones or returning to normal size after the transformation? Share your opinion!
