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Related Concept Videos

Prokaryotic Cells01:51

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains—Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common organisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins. However,...
Prokaryotic Cells01:28

Prokaryotic Cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains — Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common microorganisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.
Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins.
Prokaryotic cells01:51

Prokaryotic cells

Prokaryotes are small unicellular organisms that include the domains—Archaea and Bacteria. Bacteria include many common organisms, such as Salmonella and E. coli, while the Archaea include extremophiles that live in harsh environments, such as volcanic springs.Like eukaryotic cells, all prokaryotic cells are surrounded by a plasma membrane, have genetic material in the form of single, circular DNA, a cytoplasm that fills the interior of the cell, and ribosomes that synthesize proteins. However,...
Microbial Morphologies01:29

Microbial Morphologies

Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the most commonly observed shapes include cocci and bacilli. Cocci are spherical and may exist singly or in groupings such as pairs (diplococci), chains (streptococci), clusters (staphylococci), or tetrads. Bacilli, in contrast, are rod-shaped and can also occur as single cells, in pairs, or chains, depending on their environmental and genetic...
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
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...

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Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
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Published on: May 10, 2020

The surprisingly diverse ways that prokaryotes move.

Ken F Jarrell1, Mark J McBride

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3N6 Ontario, Canada. jarrellk@queensu.ca

Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|May 8, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Prokaryotes exhibit diverse motility mechanisms, including flagella, pili, and internal structures, enabling movement in various environments. These microorganisms utilize complex sensory systems to navigate towards optimal conditions.

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Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
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High-throughput Method for Observing Motility Phenotypes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Prokaryotic cells display remarkable diversity in motility mechanisms.
  • Movement is essential for prokaryotes to colonize new environments and find resources.
  • Understanding prokaryotic motility is crucial for fields ranging from medicine to biotechnology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of prokaryotic motility mechanisms.
  • To highlight the diversity of structures and strategies employed by prokaryotes for movement.
  • To emphasize the role of sensory systems in controlling prokaryotic locomotion.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on prokaryotic cell motility.
  • Analysis of diverse motility strategies including swimming, swarming, gliding, and twitching.
  • Examination of the involvement of cellular structures like flagella, pili, cytoskeleton, and gas vesicles.

Main Results:

  • Prokaryotes utilize a wide array of motility mechanisms, including external appendages (flagella, pili) and internal structures (cytoskeleton, gas vesicles).
  • Specific examples of motility include spinning flagella, pulling pili, and Mycoplasma 'walking' legs.
  • The mechanisms underlying some motility types remain incompletely understood.
  • Complex sensory systems are integral to controlling movement in response to environmental stimuli.

Conclusions:

  • Prokaryotic motility is a complex and diverse phenomenon involving a variety of cellular structures and strategies.
  • Environmental sensing and response are critical for directed movement and survival of motile prokaryotes.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of less understood motility types.