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Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion01:05

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
Mechanism of Ciliary Motion01:05

Mechanism of Ciliary Motion

The ciliary structures were first seen in 1647 by Antonie Leeuwenhoek while observing the protozoans. In lower organisms, these appendages are responsible for cell movement, while in higher organisms, these appendages help in the movement of the extracellular fluids within the body cavities.
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
Microtubules in Signaling01:22

Microtubules in Signaling

The primary cilium, made up of microtubules, acts as antennae on the cell surfaces for relaying external stimuli into the cells. These fine hair-like structures are present, generally one per cell. These are non-motile cilia in a 9+0 microtubules arrangement, where the central pair of microtubules are absent. The primary cilia arise from the basal body embedded in the cell membrane. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) carries requisite proteins from the cytoplasm to the cilium because the primary...
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:12

Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments

The cytoskeleton is a complex dynamic structure performing varied functions based on cellular requirements. The adaptability of the individual filaments in the cytoskeleton determines their ability to perform various functions within the cell. It can undergo rapid reorganization during processes like cell division or remain stable for several hours as in the interphase. The adaptability of these filaments depends on stringent regulatory mechanisms. The microfilament and microtubules of the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

2D and 3D Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models to Dissect Primary Cilium Involvement during Neocortical Development
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Evolution and persistence of the cilium.

Peter Satir1, Charles Guerra, Aaron J Bell

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA. satir@aecom.yu.edu

Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton
|September 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The origin of eukaryotic cilia may stem from a self-assembling RNA virus, providing precursors for basal bodies and centrioles. This viral origin explains self-assembly and sensory functions, with host cells building the axoneme.

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2D and 3D Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Based Models to Dissect Primary Cilium Involvement during Neocortical Development
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Published on: March 25, 2022

Simple Detection of Primary Cilia by Immunofluorescence
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Simple Detection of Primary Cilia by Immunofluorescence

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Evaluation of Planar-Cell-Polarity Phenotypes in Ciliopathy Mouse Mutant Cochlea
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Area of Science:

  • Eukaryotic cell biology
  • Origin of organelles
  • Viral evolution

Background:

  • Cilia are complex eukaryotic organelles with unknown origins.
  • Key challenges include explaining motility, sensory functions, nine-fold symmetry, and basal body formation.
  • Previous theories of spirochaete origin or endogenous differentiation lack comprehensive explanations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a novel hypothesis for the origin of cilia.
  • To explain the self-assembly and self-replicative properties of basal bodies and centrioles.
  • To integrate viral origins with host cell contributions in ciliogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Hypothetical model based on viral self-assembly.
  • Analysis of viral precursors (tubulin, tektin) for organelle formation.
  • Integration of host cell transport machinery and microtubule polymerization.

Main Results:

  • A self-assembling RNA enveloped virus provides the basis for centrioles and basal bodies.
  • The viral envelope evolves into a sensory bud.
  • Host cell machinery constructs the axoneme, completing the 9+2 microtubule pattern.

Conclusions:

  • Cilia likely originated from an RNA virus, accounting for basal body properties.
  • This viral endosymbiosis model offers a parsimonious explanation for ciliary origins.
  • The host cell plays a crucial role in axoneme construction and functionalization.