Diplonemids belong to the most diverse and abundant marine protists, which places them among the key players of the oceanic ecosystem. Under in vitro conditions, their best-known representative Diplonema papillatum accumulates in its cytoplasm a crystalline polymer. When grown under the nutrient-poor conditions, but not nutrient-rich conditions, D. papillatum synthesizes a β-1,3-glucan polymer, also known as paramylon. This phenomenon is unexpected, as it is in striking contrast to the accumulation of paramylon in euglenids, since these related flagellates synthesize this polymer solely under nutrient-rich conditions. The capacity of D. papillatum to store an energy source in the form of polysaccharides when the environment is poor in nutrients is unexpected and may contribute to the wide distribution of these protists in the ocean.

Faculty of Natural Sciences Comenius University Bratislava Slovakia

Institute of Entomology Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic; Faculty of Natural Sciences Comenius University Bratislava Slovakia

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic; Faculty of Science Charles University BIOCEV Vestec Czech Republic

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