Protists represent an immensely diverse group of organisms comprised of algae, fungi and protozoa. The nature of protistan cell surface is as diverse as the terminology that has evolved to describe the various surface components. This terminology is defined and discussed in the opening of this book. The remaining contributions provide an up-to-date synopsis of structure, development and function of protistan cell surfaces, including their role in taxonomy and systematics.

The Cytoskeleton of the Algae provides a comprehensive examination of the structural features of the cytoskeleton in phylogenetic branches of algae. The book also analyzes the possible functions of cytoskeletal components using structural, physiological, genetic, and molecular approaches. Many taxa are described in detail, mirroring the dramatic progress that has been made in recent years in this new research field. Many unique structural elements and motility phenomena are described for the first time, and other features common to all plant cells, such as cell polarity, cytoplasmic streaming, mitosis, cell wall deposition, and contractile events are analyzed using algae as experimental model systems. The Cytoskeleton of the Algae reflects the enormous impact that research on the algal cytoskeleton has on both phycology and plant cell biology, and it will serve as an excellent reference volume for researchers in this area.