The distinctive flagellar proteome of Euglena gracilis illuminates the complexities of protistan flagella adaptation

• DOI: 10.1111/nph.17638
• Publication Date: 2021-07-22T12:43:58Z
• Authors: Michael Hammond; Martin Zoltner; Jack Garrigan; Erin Butterfield; Vladimir Varga; Julius Lukeš; Mark C. Field
• Keywords: Euglena gracilis; Protist; Phototaxis; Proteome; Organelle; Euglena; Caulobacter crescentus

The eukaryotic flagellum/cilium is a prominent organelle with conserved structure and diverse functions. Euglena gracilis, photosynthetic highly adaptable protist, employs its flagella for both locomotion environmental sensing. Using proteomics of isolated E. gracilis we identify nearly 1700 protein groups, which challenges previous estimates the complexity motile flagella. We not only identified several unexpected similarities shared mammalian flagella, including an entire glycolytic pathway proteasome, but also document vast array flagella-based signal transduction components that coordinate gravitaxis phototactic motility. By contrast, pellicle was found to consist > 900 containing additional structural signalling components. Our data significant adaptations within flagellum, many are clearly linked flexible lifestyle.