Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Reactivation of Demembranated Cell Models in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
03:37

Reactivation of Demembranated Cell Models in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Published on: May 6, 2022

Short-Flagella Mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

M R Kuchka1, J W Jarvik

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.

Genetics
|April 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified six short-flagella mutants in Chlamydomonas, revealing three genes controlling flagellar length. These findings suggest a specific flagellar size-control system is involved in flagellar assembly.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Flagella are crucial for motility and cell-cell interactions in many organisms.
  • Understanding flagellar length regulation is key to comprehending cellular processes.
  • Previous physiological experiments suggested the existence of a flagellar size-control system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize genetic factors involved in flagellar length control in Chlamydomonas.
  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying flagellar assembly and size determination.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and characterization of six short-flagella mutants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
  • Genetic analysis including complementation tests and gene mapping to identify affected genes (shf-1, shf-2, shf-3).
  • Construction of double mutants and isolation of phenotypic revertants to study gene interactions and suppressor mutations.

Main Results:

  • Six short-flagella mutants were isolated, identifying three unlinked Mendelian genes: shf-1, shf-2, and shf-3.
  • shf-1 and shf-2 were mapped to chromosomes VI and I, respectively.
  • Mutations exhibited temperature-sensitive and cold-sensitive flagellar assembly phenotypes, and double mutants displayed flagellaless or short-flagella phenotypes.
  • Extragenic suppressors, both dominant and recessive, were identified in phenotypic revertants.

Conclusions:

  • The identified shf mutations likely affect components of a specific flagellar size-control system.
  • These genetic studies provide new insights into the complex regulation of flagellar length.
  • Further research into these genes and their products will elucidate the mechanisms of flagellar assembly and size determination.

More Related Videos

Observation of Photobehavior in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii03:54

Observation of Photobehavior in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Published on: May 6, 2022

Mating and Tetrad Separation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for Genetic Analysis10:04

Mating and Tetrad Separation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for Genetic Analysis

Published on: August 12, 2009

Related Concept Videos

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria01:18

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...
Special Staining Techniques01:13

Special Staining Techniques

Specialized staining techniques play a vital role in microbiology by enabling the visualization of specific bacterial structures that remain undetectable with standard microscopy methods. These techniques not only enhance the structural visualization of bacterial cells but also provide critical insights into their pathogenicity and classification. Additionally, they support diagnostic and research endeavors in microbiology by identifying key bacterial features.Capsule Staining for Virulence...
Channel Rhodopsins01:11

Channel Rhodopsins

Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae01:29

Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae

The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
Red Algae01:23

Red Algae

Red algae, also known as rhodophytes, are primarily found in marine environments, though some species inhabit freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. These organisms exist in both unicellular and multicellular forms, with some multicellular varieties reaching macroscopic sizes.As phototrophic organisms, red algae contain chlorophyll a; however, their chloroplasts lack chlorophyll b. Instead, they possess phycobiliproteins, which serve as major light-harvesting pigments, similar to those found in...
Diversity of Protists I01:15

Diversity of Protists I

Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...