Myzocytosis (from Greek: myzein, (μυζεῖν) meaning "to suck" and kytos (κύτος) meaning "container", hence referring to "cell") is a method of feeding found in some heterotrophic organisms. It is also called "cellular vampirism" as the predatory cell pierces the cell wall and/or cell membrane of the prey cell with a feeding tube, the conoid, sucks out the cellular content and digests it.
Myzocytosis is found in Myzozoa and also in some species of Ciliophora (both comprise the alveolates). A classic example of myzocytosis is the feeding method of the infamous predatory ciliate, Didinium, where it is often depicted devouring a hapless Paramecium. The suctorian ciliates were originally thought to have fed exclusively through myzocytosis, sucking out the cytoplasm of prey via superficially drinking straw-like pseudopodia. It is now understood that suctorians do not feed through myzocytosis, but actually, instead, manipulate and envenomate captured prey with their tentacle-like pseudopodia.
Myzocytosis occurs with both dinoflagellates and euglenozoans. The feeding of Myzozoa allows for uptake of necessary nutrients such as Carbon and Nitrogen. Myzocytosis is sequential and is hypothesized to involve signal transduction, where enzymes and molecules are released to breach the membrane of its prey. During myzocytosis in some dinoflagellates, the cell's "food vacuole" enlarges and can form a temporary cyst after the feeding. Actin is hypothesized to support the formation of the "tubular tether" during myzocytosis.
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