Three different types of mate-killer (mu) particle in <i>Paramecium aurelia</i> (syngen 1)

Abstract

ABSTRACT A new rapid method for staining endosymbiotic particles in Paramecium is described. Two new strains of mu particle in P. aurelia syngen I are compared with the previously known mu particles of stock 540 by light and electron microscopy. Morphologically the three types of particle differ only in size, but each converts its host Paramecium into a mate-killer of a specific type. Each of the three particles appears to require the presence of different genes of Paramecium.