Is the C-type lectin in Monosiga brevicollis used as a feeding receptor?
Jane Manning, Emma Wootton, Emily Roberts Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wales Swansea, UK, SA2 8PP This multidisciplinary project investigates the biochemical mechanisms used by unicellular plankton to recognize their prey. Ciliates and flagellates are the two principle groups of marine plankton involved in consuming bacteria and phytoplankton at the base of the aquatic food web. In order to better understand carbon cycling and nutrient regeneration in the ocean, it is important to first understand the mechanisms used by these microscopic predators to distinguish their prey. Ubiquitous in nature, lectins are carbohydrate binding proteins, with a frequent role in cell to cell recognition. In several protists, feeding experiments involving live and bead prey have demonstrated the employment of various lectins as feeding receptors used for detection and selection of prey items. The first set of experiments involves the choanoflagellate, Monosiga brevicollis. Previous re
