Fine-structural Observations on Siliceous Scale Production and Shell Assembly in the Testate Amoeba Paulinella chromatophora.

The fine structure of shell formation was observed in P. chromatophora. Scales were formed one by one in silica deposition vesicles (SDVs) that were supported by an array of microtubules, which are probably involved in determining the shape and size of scales. The timing of silicic acid transport into an SDV was shown to be at an early stage of scale production because silicon was detected within SDVs containing immature scales. During the shell construction process, vesicles containing two types of dense materials were observed. One type of vesicle contains lower-density material and is located at the front edge of the branched, thick pseudopodium, extending from the maternal shell to the newly formed shell. The other type of vesicle, which contains higher-density material, was also observed in the thick pseudopodium. It appears that microtubules are involved in the shell construction process.