Matt Bostick
Product Development

January 2017

When you teach the concept of symbiosis and the endosymbiotic theory, consider using Paramecium bursaria, the single-celled, ciliated protist that forms a mutualistic relationship with algae. P. bursaria is the only known ciliate Paramecium species capable of forming and maintaining endosymbiotic algae within the cytoplasm. As a mutualistic symbiosis, the Paramecium host supplies carbon dioxide, nitrogen components, and protection for several hundred endosymbiotic algal cells of the genus Chlorella. In return, the Chlorella endosymbionts (symbiotic organisms that live within the host’s body) may supply their host with maltose, a product of algal photosynthesis.

You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours

Unlike obligate mutualism, in which 1 organism cannot survive without the other, the relationship between Chlorella sp. and P. bursaria is considered to be a facultative mutualism. Algae-free Paramecium cells and the endosymbiotic algae retain the ability to survive and reproduce when isolated from their symbiotic partner. However, algae-free P. bursaria cells are rare in nature. P. bursaria must receive a few extra perks, in addition to maltose products, from harboring thousands of algae.

Research suggests that algal endosymbionts show increased rates of photosynthetic oxygen production within the host when compared to algae cells isolated from their host, a factor that enhances oxygen availability to the host. It has even been determined that P. bursaria growth is enhanced in cells harboring algal symbionts compared to algae-free cells. Much like roommates adapting to each other’s schedule, the expression of circadian rhythms in the Paramecium host is correlated to the products of algal photosynthesis by endosymbiotic Chlorella. The 2 partners also seem to be in sync with regards to the timing of cell division, making the symbiotic associations between these cells fascinating models for the study of cell communication (De Clerck et al. 2012).

To initiate the mutualism, the host P. bursaria cell swallows the symbiotic algae by phagocytosis and then stores the photosynthetic algae in vacuoles. While the mechanisms by which the algal cells acquire temporary resistance to host lysosomal enzymes (cell killing) are not fully understood, the Paramecium is able to store, rather than digest, the endosymbiont. When the Paramecium moves towards areas of greater light intensity, algal photosynthesis supplies each partner with carbohydrates (Kodama and Fujishima 2009).

Suggested activities

The symbiotic relationship between Chlorella sp. and P. bursaria is rife with opportunity for classroom discovery. Consider the following activities.

1. Study living specimens of Paramecium bursaria to observe symbiosis in the classroom. Carolina offers cultures of the ciliate host, green in color from the Chlorella in its cytoplasm. Each culture contains enough material for a class of 30 students. Check out our free Carolina LabSheets™: Introduction to Protista: Paramecium for a lab activity that includes an answer sheet for the instructor.
2. In the 1960s Lynn Margulis first proposed the endosymbiosis hypothesis to explain how free-living chloroplasts and mitochondria may have been engulfed by larger eukaryotic cells. While we are unable to observe the origin of endosymbiotic events that may have happened over a billion years ago, the relationship between Chlorella and P. bursaria provides opportunities to explore endosymbiosis in the classroom. Such observations may augment student understanding of the costs and benefits of mutualism and serve as a starting point for class discussion on topics such as symbiosis or as an explanation for the evolution of the eukaryotic cell. Carolina BioKits®: Symbiosis allows students to explore several real-life examples of symbiosis.

References

De Clerck, O., Bogaert, K., Leliaert, F. 2012. Diversity and Evolution of Algae: Primary Endosymbiosis. Advances in Botanical Research 64, 55–86. ISSN 0065-2296.

Kodama, Y., Fujishima, M. 2009. Infection of Paramecium bursaria by Symbiotic Chlorella Species. Endosymbionts in Paramecium, Microbiology Monographs 12, ed. M. Fujishima, 31–52. Berlin: Springer Science+Business Media. doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-92677-1_2.

Reisser, W. 1986. Endosymbiotic associations of freshwater protozoa and algae. Progress in Protistology 1, 195–214.