Protists

I. Characteristics of Protists

A. Most are unicellular, although multicellular and colonial exist
B. Metabolism may be photoautotrophic, chemoheterotrophic or mixotrophic
(ability to do both)
C. Found almost anywhere there is water
D. All can reproduce asexually, some can reproduce sexually

II. Origin of Eukaryotes (20.4)

A. Believed to be about 1.5 billion years old
B. Autogenous Model- Hypothesis that eukaryotic cells evolved by the
specialization of internal membranes derived originally from the plasma
membrane of a prokaryote (least accepted)
C. Endosymbiotic Model- Hypothesis that eukaryotic cells evolved from several
prokaryotic cells living in an symbiotic relationship (more widely accepted)

1. Mitochondria probably originated when larger prokaryotes engulfed
heterotrophic bacteria
2. Chloroplasts probably originated when the heterotrophic bacteria with
mitochondria engulfed photosynthetic cyanobacteria
3. Evidence supports this model
a. mitochondria and chloroplasts reproduce by binary fission, have
their own DNA and can divide independently of the cell
b. DNA of chloroplasts resembles that of cyanobacteria
c. Inner membranes of mitochondria and chloroplasts resemble that
of prokaryotes
4. Developed by Lynn Margulis

D. Acritarchs- believed to be oldest eukaryotic fossils, about 2.1 billion years
old

III. Flagellated Protists

A. Pellicle- layer of proteins beneath membrane which helps maintain shape
B. Diplomonads

1. Lack mitochondria, have hydrogenosomes (produce some ATP
anaerobically)
2. Have two equal sized nuclei
3. Giardia- lives in human intestines, may make people sick if
contaminates drinking water
C. Euglenozoans (euglenoids)

1. Have a spiral or crystalline rod inside flagella
2. Euglenas demonstrate euglenoid movement where they cease flagella
movement and squirm through debris

D. Kinetoplastids
1. single large mitochondria which contains a mass of DNA called a
kinetoplast
2. Trypanosoma- causes African Sleeping Sickness, vector is Tsetse fly,
fatal disease if untreated
3. Trypanosomes evade our immune system by constantly changing
their outer protein composition

IV. Foraminiferans and Radiolarians
A. Foraminifera (forams) to bear little holes
1. tests- porous shells of calcium carbonate
2. pseudopodia- extend through pores for feeding and locomotion

B. Radiolarians
1. tests made of silica which have contributed to the ocean floor
2. axopodia- pseudopodia like structures used primarily for feeding

V. Alveolates

A. Membrane bound sacs (alveoli) just under membrane
B. Dinoflagellates whirling flagellate
1. abundant parts of marine and freshwater phytoplankton
2. shape is reinforced by plates of cellulose
3. responsible for the Red Tide
4. some are bioluminescent (caused by enzyme luciferase)



C. Apicomplexans tip has complex of organelles
1. apcoplast- nonphotosynthetic plastid which makes things like fatty
acids
2. Plasmodium causes Malaria
a. spread by the female Anopheles mosquito
b. resistant strains of Plasmodium are appearing
c. constantly changes surface proteins
d. life cycle page 359
3. Toxoplasma gondii- causes toxoplasmosis, often carried by cats

D. Ciliates bearing cilia
1. two types of nuclei
a. macronucleus- large, controls everyday functions by synthesizing
RNA
b. micronucleus- small, used for conjugation
2. Paramecium
a. contractile vacuoles are used to control osmoregulation
b. trichocysts- protein threads beneath pellicle which help with defense
and feeding

VI. Stramenopiles straw hair

A. flagella have numerous fine, hairlike projections
B. Oomycetes- egg fungus water molds, white rusts, downy mildews
1. cell walls made of cellulose
2. acquire nutrients as decomposers or parasites
3. Potato late blight caused Irish Potato Famine

C. Diatoms (bacillariophytes)
1. glasslike wall of silica shaped like shoebox for support
2. photosynthetic pigment fucoxanthin
3. major part of phytoplankton of oceans and lakes
4. make up diatomaceous earth (mined for filtering)

D. Phaeophytes brown- kelps and seaweed
1. largest and most complex algae
2. seaweeds- most complex anatomy of all algae
a. thallus- seaweed body, lacks, roots, stems and leaves
b. holdfast- rootlike, anchors seaweed
c. stipe- stem like, supports blade
d. blade- leaf like, surface for photosynthesis
4. algin, an extract of seaweed is used to thicken foods such as pudding
and ice-cream
5. Alternation of Generations- changing between haploid and diploid forms
a. diploid form is called the sporophyte and produces spores
b. haploid form is called the gametophyte and produces gametes
c. heteromorphic- both forms look different
d. isomorphic- both forms look the same
VII. Chlorophyta green algae

A. Clade Charophyte closely related to land plants
B. Cell walls composed of cellulose
C. some live in a mutualistic relationship with fungi (lichens)

VIII. Rhodophyta- red algae

A. pigments phycoerythrin and phycobilin reflect red wavelengths
B. agar from the cell walls help jelly set and keeps cosmetics and baked
goods moist
C. carrageenan is a polysaccharides used to prevent ice formation on planes

IX Amoebozoans

A. Gymnamoebas- typical amoebas, feed by phagocytosis, free living
B. Entamoebas- parasites of animals, cause of amoebic dysentery
C. Mycetozoans- slime molds
1. filamentous body structure which increases surface area and enhances
their role as decomposers
2. differ from fungi in reproduction, cellular organization and life cycle