Maximum likelihood (ML) and parsimony (MP) phylogenetic analyses were performed in PAUP* [45] and Baysian analyses (MB) in Mr. Bayes [46] (both executed Batimastat solubility dmso in Geneious Pro 4.0.4) using the best fit model as determined by ModelTest [47] (GTR+I+G). Support was determined based on 100 bootstrap replicates (ML and MP) or the posterior probability after one million generations, with an initial 10% burn-in (MB). Statistical analysis Oneway ANOVA analysis (Tukey HSD Test, α = 0.05, JMP 7 software package) was conducted to assess the differences among first appearance time and persistence time of asymmetric dividers in cultures

with three different concentrations of bacterial suspension (data was log-transformed into normal distribution). Acknowledgements The kind help of Dr. Hongbin Liu and Dr. Ke Pan, Department of Biology, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Dr. Hongwei Ma, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Medical College of Wisconsin, for providing support and space in sampling and identifying G. trihymene and protargol information for this study, is greatly appreciated. We are grateful for the ability to take photomicrographs in labs of Dr. J. Leigh Leasure and Dr. Ricardo Azevedo, for the fruitful discussions with Dr.

W. Anthony Frankino and Dr. Tim Cooper on this study, and for help in statistical analysis from Mr. Hongyu Guo, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston. EPZ015666 price We also thank the three anonymous reviewers, Kevin J. Spring Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II and Lara R. Appleby for their insightful and thorough comments on the manuscript. This research was supported by a grant from

Houston Coastal Center awarded to HL and RAZ. References 1. Foissner W: Ontogenesis in ciliated protozoa, with emphasis on Ferrostatin-1 chemical structure stomatogenesis. In Ciliates, cells as organisms. Edited by: Hausmann K, Bradbury PC. Stuttgart, Germany: Gustav Fischer Press; 1996:95–177. 2. Foissner W, Chao A, Katz LA: Diversity and geographic distribution of ciliates (Protista: Ciliophora). Biodivers Conserv 2008, 17:345–363.CrossRef 3. Lynn DH: The ciliated protozoa. Characterization, classification and guide to the literature. 3rd edition. New York: Springer; 2008. 4. Corliss JO: Protozoan cysts and spores. In Encyclopedia of life sciences. Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2001. 5. Chatton É, Lwoff A: Les ciliés Apostomes. Aperçu historique et général; étude mongraphique des genres et des espèces. Arch Zool Exp Gén 1935, 77:1–453. 6. Frankel J: Morphogenesis and division in chains of Tetrahymena pyriformis GL. J Protozool 1964,11(4):514–526.PubMed 7. Frankel J: Mutations affecting cell division in Tetrahymena pyriformis , syngen 1. 2. Phenotypes of single and double homozygotes. Dev Biol 1977,58(2):255–275.PubMedCrossRef 8. Thazhath R, Liu C, Gaertig J: Polyglycylation domain of β-tubulin maintains axonemal architecture and affects cytokinesis in Tetrahymena . Nat Cell Biol 2002, 4:256–259.PubMedCrossRef 9.