Cells containing aragonite crystals mediate responses to gravity in Trichoplax adhaerens (Placozoa), an animal lacking neurons and synapses.

Trichoplax adhaerens has only six cell types. The function as well as the structure of crystal cells, the least numerous cell type, presented an enigma. Crystal cells are arrayed around the perimeter of the animal and each contains a birefringent crystal. Crystal cells resemble lithocytes in other a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tatiana D Mayorova, Carolyn L Smith, Katherine Hammar, Christine A Winters, Natalia B Pivovarova, Maria A Aronova, Richard D Leapman, Thomas S Reese
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5771587?pdf=render