The flagellar apparatus ofDunaliella: Isolation of basal body-flagellar root complex

Summary InDunaliella bioculata, a biflagellate wall-less unicellular alga, the cytoskeleton is organized around the two basal bodies. Each basal body is associated with two dissymetric flagellar roots and numerous micro tubules which constitue a regular frame around the cell. We isolated the basal body-flagellar-root apparatus and studied its ultrastructure after negative staining. The two different flagellar roots are formed of microtubules and bundles of twisted filaments 3,5–4 nm in diameter. The proximal end of each root fans out and envelopes the basal body. We have shown preliminary results on the protein composition of basal body-flagellar roots fraction.