Title
Functionally significant central-pair rotation in a primitive eukaryotic flagellum
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Cell Biology
Publication Date
1981-04-23
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Algae; Cell Membrane; Flagella; Microtubules; Movement
Disciplines
Cell Biology
Abstract
There is now considerable evidence that the basis for ciliary and flagellar movement is an active sliding between peripheral doublet microtubules which, when resisted by structures within the axoneme, leads to axonemal bend formation. In contrast, relatively little is known about the control mechanisms which coordinate the interdoublet sliding and axonemal binding to produce the effective motion observed in various cilia and flagella. One component of the axoneme which may be involved in this control is the central pair of microtubules. To learn more about the action of the central pair, we have studied the tiny uniflagellate marine alga, Micromonas pusilla. The central tubules of the M. pusilla flagellum extend for several micrometres beyond the termination of the peripheral doublets, thus permitting direct observation of the central pair during flagellar movement. Our findings, reported here, indicate that in living M. pusilla the central pair of microtubules undergoes continuous rotation in one direction. This rotation provides the motive force for the cell.
Source
Nature. 1981 Apr 23;290(5808):708-10.
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Nature
Related Resources
PubMed ID
7219555
Repository Citation
Omoto, Charlotte K. and Witman, George B., "Functionally significant central-pair rotation in a primitive eukaryotic flagellum" (1981). Cell and Developmental Biology Publications. 49.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cellbiology_pp/49