Figure 6.

Tetrahymena cells undergo dynamic cortical reorganization during nutrient poor condition. (A) Starvation induces Tetrahymena dispersal from a nutrient-poor environment towards a nutrient-rich environment. This is facilitated by cortical remodeling, which includes the reduction in cell length and the formation of a caudal cilium at the posterior end of the cell. (B) Schematic illustrates the reduction in inter-BB distance (blue arrowheads) upon the starvation of Tetrahymena cells. This is predicted to support faster cell motility. Dotted black arrows represent ciliary beating. Large black arrow indicates faster cell motility.