Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Measurement of Microtubule Dynamics by Spinning Disk Microscopy in Monopolar Mitotic Spindles
08:31

Measurement of Microtubule Dynamics by Spinning Disk Microscopy in Monopolar Mitotic Spindles

Published on: November 15, 2019

The velocity of microtubule sliding: its stability and load dependency

Sumio Ishijima1

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan. sishijim@bio.titech.ac.jp

Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton
|August 10, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Sperm flagellar movement is generated by microtubule sliding. This study reveals two distinct beating modes in mammalian sperm, regulated by a constant sliding velocity dependent on flagellar stiffness, a mechanism conserved across species.

Area of Science:

  • Sperm motility research
  • Cellular biomechanics
  • Reproductive biology

Background:

  • Flagellar movement in sperm is driven by ATP-dependent microtubule sliding within the axoneme.
  • The precise control mechanisms governing flagellar beating, particularly in mammalian sperm, require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the regulation of flagellar beating patterns in mammalian spermatozoa.
  • To determine the relationship between microtubule sliding velocity and flagellar mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed analysis of mammalian sperm flagellar beating patterns.
  • Comparison of microtubule sliding velocity with flagellar mechanical properties across species.
  • Mathematical modeling to describe the force-velocity relationship.

Main Results:

  • Mammalian sperm exhibit two distinct flagellar beating modes (constant-curvature and constant-frequency) at a constant microtubule sliding rate.
  • Flagellar stiffness at the base determines microtubule sliding velocity, following a logarithmic relationship.
  • This force-velocity relationship is conserved between mammalian and sea urchin spermatozoa.

Conclusions:

  • Flagellar beat frequency and waveform are dependently regulated by a constant rate of microtubule sliding.
  • A conserved microtubule sliding system governs flagellar motility in both mammalian and echinoderm sperm.
  • Flagellar stiffness is a key determinant of sperm motility dynamics.

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