Ultrastructure of Anaulus creticus Drebes & Schulz with special reference to its reduced ocelli
Schulz, D.; Drebes, G.; Lehmann, H.; Jank-Ladwig, R.
European Journal of Cell Biology 33(1): 43-51
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0171-9335 PMID: 6698043 Document Number: 234131
The ultrastructure of the vegetative cell of the centric diatom Anaulus creticus Drebes & Schulz is described. Exhibiting the organic wall component (diatotepum) separated from the siliceous parts of the cell wall this species belongs to the diatom group with so-called split-walls [17]. A most interesting feature of the Anaulus cell is the horn region and its internal structure. As there is no silicified sieve-plate at the horn top but just a big hole sealed only by a thin diatotepum with a hexagonal meshwork, this wall structure is termed a "reduced ocellus". The inner part of the horn region is largely occupied by a conspicuous protoplasmic plug of proteinaceous nature. The possible function of this peculiar structure is discussed as well as new ideas about the role of the labiate process are provided.