Intermitotic timing and motility patterns in the cell division of the diatom Seminavis robusta

TL;DR

This study investigates the cell division timing and motility patterns in Seminavis robusta, revealing no significant difference in intermitotic times between daughter cells and a higher motility in smaller hypothecal cells.

Contribution

Developed a tracking and machine-learning detection method to analyze cell division and motility, providing new insights into diatom cell cycle dynamics.

Findings

No significant difference in intermitotic times between daughter cells

Weak coupling of cell cycle to day-night cycle

Higher motility observed in smaller hypothecal cells

Abstract

Many diatoms follow a size diminuation - size restoration cycle in their vegetative phase, leading to daughter cells that differ in size. For the diatom Seminavis robusta, we investigated by cell tracking over several generations whether the size difference reflects also in different intermitotic times or in the mobility of the cells. A tracking setup and machine-learning based detection algorithm was developed that revealed no significant difference in intermitotic times, a weak coupling to the day- night cycle, and a higher motility of the hypothecal, smaller daughter cell.