| Abstract: | Flagellar development during the asexual synchronous cell cycle of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (11.32 aM) was studied by light microscopy. Cell walls of sporangia of different developmental status were dissolved using gamete lysin (g-lysin) enabling direct observation of flagellar development. Flagellar growth in progeny cells exhibits a linear kinetic with a growth rate of 28 nm/min at 30°C leading to a flagellar length of 7–7.5 μm in 4–4.5 h. After this time the flagellar growth rate drops to 2.8 nm/min (as in interphase). Both flagella of a single cell and all flagella within a sporangium grow out at the same time and with the same rate. Cycloheximide (10 μg/ml) completely blocks flagellar development. If cycloheximide is removed flagellar growth resumes at the normal rate with no lag-phase. Flagellar development during the cell cycle in C. reinhardtii differs considerably from the well-studied model system of flagellar regeneration following amputation in the same species. |
