Dresden 2017 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 14: Physics of Physarum polycephalum and Other Slime Molds - Joint Focus Session (BP/DY) organized by Hans-Günther Döbereiner

BP 14.2: Talk

Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 10:00–10:15, SCH A251

Calcium dynamics in Physarum polycephalum — •Mirna Kramar and Karen Alim — Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany

Calcium is a known regulator of myosin across all living organisms, as well as a key player in cell signalling. We study the effects of calcium on morphogenesis, locomotion and healing in the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum. Physarum is a giant multinucleate and unicellular organism. The organism uses peristaltic contractions of the actomyosin layer to create shuttle streaming of the cytoplasm throughout its network of tubes. Upon a change of environmental conditions, the contractions change and cause a reorganization of the network. The mechanism that propagates information within the body and results in the network reorganization is not yet clear. We hypothesise that calcium plays the key role in this process by directly influencing the myosin and thus causing a local change in the contractions. Using an approach with two fluorescent dyes, we label free calcium ions and show the response of calcium upon the application of various stimuli to the plasmodium.