The glycoprotein component of the cell membrane. In some genera (e.g. Vannella), the glycoproteins are arranged into extended glycostyles.

A cell that lacks mitochondria. It has been understood that amitochondrial amoebae represent more primitive (early branching) forms, however Entamoeba which was for a very long time thought to lack mitochondria was then thought to have lost them secondarily (Clark & Roger, 1995), and finally now appears to possess mitochondria -like vesicles. A [..]

Cultured without any other organism. For example as a broth that sustains growth of the protist.  Many amoebae have been brought into axenic culture although to date (with the possible exception of Trichospherium, which is actually a testate amoeba) no marine gymnamoebae has been successfully brought to axenic condition. [More]

  A membranous invagination of the nuclear envelope described in Labyrinthula. Porter, D. (1972). "Cell division in the marine slime mold, Labyrinthula sp.,and the role of the bothrosome in extracellular production." Protoplasma 74: 427-448.

(E.R.) An extended membranous organelle that proteins destined for the cell membrane or for export are synthesized within (or on).  These proteins are extruded into the lumen of the E.R. as they are synthesized by ribosomes bound to docking proteins on the cytoplasmic surface.  The proteins are then modified by glycosylation and other post translat [..]

Tolerant of a wide range of salinity [Greek euyrs = wide & hals = salt].  Whereas most amoebae are either found in freshwater or marine waters, some e.g. Acanthamoeba are to be found occasionally in both.  In the case of Acanthamoeba the presence of encysted cells complicates matters as it is likely that they survive as cysts in the seas having [..]

A flattened, fan shape adopted by several amoeba genera such as Vannella, Platyamoeba, Flabellula, Flamella etc.  As one observes these amoeba gliding across a surface it seems that these cells are covering as much of the area as possible in order to encounter as many bacteria concentrated by adhesion on the biofilm.  This may well be true but seve [..]

Also known as dictysome in older literature.  The Golgi or Golgi apparatus is an organelle whose function it is to add saccharides to glycoproteins.  The Golgi is typically formed into a stack of membranes, in mammalian cells these are arranged on microtubules close to the nuclear envelope.  Many amoebae do not produce recognisable Golgi but instea [..]

This term seems to be applied to different groups of amoeba by different authors.  Gymnamoebae usually means naked amoebae as distinct from testate amoebae.

Modified mitochondria that perform a similar function to mitochondria under anoxic conditions.