Coccolith arrangement follows Eulerian mathematics in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The globally abundant coccolithophore, Emiliania huxleyi, plays an important ecological role in oceanic carbon biogeochemistry by forming a cellular covering of plate-like CaCO₃ crystals (coccoliths) and fixing CO₂. It is unknown how the cells arrange different-sized coccoliths to maintain full coverage, as the cell surface area of the cell changes during daily cycle.

Methods

We used Euler's polyhedron formula and CaGe simulation software, validated with the geometries of coccoliths, to analyze and simulate the coccolith topology of the coccosphere and to explore the arrangement mechanisms.

Results

There were only small variations in the geometries of coccoliths, even when the cells were cultured under variable light conditions.

SUBMITTER: Xu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5896503 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature