flagella

Examples of flagella in the following topics:

• Spirochaetes

  • They are often distinguished from other bacterial phyla by the location of their flagella.
  • The flagella, in spirochaetes, runs lengthwise between the inner and outer membranes in the periplasmic space.

• Chemotaxis

  • Some bacteria, such as E. coli, have several flagella per cell (4–10 typically) .
  • Counter-clockwise rotation - aligns the flagella into a single rotating bundle, causing the bacterium to swim in a straight line.
  • Clockwise rotation - breaks the flagella bundle apart such that each flagellum points in a different direction, causing the bacterium to tumble in place.
  • The directions of rotation are given for an observer outside the cell looking down the flagella toward the cell.
  • Change in the rotation state of a single flagellum can disrupt the entire flagella bundle and cause a tumble.

• Opisthokonts: Animals and Fungi

  • In contrast, flagellate cells in other eukaryote groups propel themselves with one or more anterior flagellae.
  • Most fungi do not produce cells with flagellae, but the primitive fungal chytrids do, suggesting that a common ancestor of current fungal species did have a flagellum.

• Morphologically Unusual Proteobacteria

  • It is a genus comprising elongated forms with clusters of flagellae at both poles.
  • These cellular appendages are neither pili nor flagella, as they are extensions of the cellular membrane and contain cytosol.

• Cholera

  • V. cholerae bacteria begin production of the hollow cylindrical protein flagellin to make flagella.
  • These flagella are cork-screw helical fibers that rotate to propel the bacteria through the mucus of the small intestine.
  • Once the cholera bacteria reach the intestinal wall, they no longer need the flagella to move.

• Noncholera Vibrios

  • All members of the genus are motile and have polar flagella with sheaths.

• Batch Culture of Bacteriophages

  • To enter a host cell, bacteriophages attach to specific receptors on the surface of bacteria, including lipopolysaccharides, teichoic acids, proteins, or even flagella.

• Facultative Phototrophy

  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a single celled green alga about 10 micrometres in diameter that swims with two flagella .

• Cytophaga and Relatives

  • In this specific type of locomotion, the exact mechanisms are unknown, but it is known that this process does not require a flagella.

• Overview of Proteobacteria

  • Many move about using flagella, but some are nonmotile or rely on bacterial gliding.