Figure 30.3 What Induces Choanoflagellates to Form Multicellular Colonies?

Original Paper: Alegado, R. A. et al. 2012. A bacterial sulfonolipid triggers multicellular development in the closest living relatives of animals. eLife 1: e00013.

The choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta forms multicellular, rose-shaped colonies (rosettes) at low frequencies in natural conditions. The rosette colonies are more efficient than are single cells at capturing some prey species of planktonic bacteria. Rosanna Alegado and her collaborators investigated the chemical signals that induce the choanoflagellates to form multicellular colonies when environmental conditions favor the rosette formations.