Euglena, a Gravitactic Flagellate of Multiple Usages
Häder DP, Hemmersbach R (2022)
Publication Type: Journal article, Review article
Publication year: 2022
Journal
Book Volume: 12
Article Number: 1522
Journal Issue: 10
DOI: 10.3390/life12101522
Abstract
Human exploration of space and other celestial bodies bears a multitude of challenges. The Earth-bound supply of material and food is restricted, and in situ resource utilisation (ISRU) is a prerequisite. Excellent candidates for delivering several services are unicellular algae, such as the space-approved flagellate Euglena gracilis. This review summarizes the main characteristics of this unicellular organism. Euglena has been exposed on various platforms that alter the impact of gravity to analyse its corresponding gravity-dependent physiological and molecular genetic responses. The sensory transduction chain of gravitaxis in E. gracilis has been identified. The molecular gravi-(mechano-)receptors are mechanosensory calcium channels (TRP channels). The inward gated calcium binds specifically to one of several calmodulins (CaM.2), which, in turn, activates an adenylyl cyclase. This enzyme uses ATP to produce cAMP, which induces protein kinase A, followed by the phosphorylation of a motor protein in the flagellum, initiating a course correction, and, finally, resulting in gravitaxis. During long space missions, a considerable amount of food, oxygen, and water has to be carried, and the exhaled carbon dioxide has to be removed. In this context, E. gracilis is an excellent candidate for biological life support systems, since it produces oxygen by photosynthesis, takes up carbon dioxide, and is even edible. Various species and mutants of Euglena are utilized as a producer of commercial food items, as well as a source of medicines, as it produces a number of vitamins, contains numerous trace elements, and synthesizes dietary proteins, lipids, and the reserve molecule paramylon. Euglena has anti-inflammatory, -oxidant, and -obesity properties.
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Germany (DE)How to cite
APA:
Häder, D.-P., & Hemmersbach, R. (2022). Euglena, a Gravitactic Flagellate of Multiple Usages. Life, 12(10). https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life12101522
MLA:
Häder, Donat-Peter, and Ruth Hemmersbach. "Euglena, a Gravitactic Flagellate of Multiple Usages." Life 12.10 (2022).
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