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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
06:08
Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
Published on: January 18, 2017
Flagellar oscillation: a commentary on proposed mechanisms.
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, U.K. d.m.woolley@btinternet.com
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Eukaryotic flagella and cilia use a
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Molecular Motors
Background:
- Eukaryotic flagella and cilia possess a conserved '9+2' axoneme structure.
- Their rhythmic beating generates fluid motion, essential for motility and signaling.
- The precise mechanism driving the oscillatory nature of this movement remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review factors influencing flagellar beat frequency.
- To explore proposed mechanisms for flagellar oscillation.
- To synthesize a unifying model for flagellar rhythmic movement.
Main Methods:
- Review of experimental research on flagellar and ciliary motility.
- Analysis of factors affecting microtubule sliding velocity.
- Evaluation of proposed oscillation models based on experimental evidence.
Main Results:
- Beat frequency is influenced by factors modulating microtubule sliding velocity.
- Six distinct mechanisms for flagellar oscillation are presented and evaluated.
- A provisional synthesis proposes oscillation arises from passive sliding direction's effect on dynein arms.
Conclusions:
- Flagellar oscillation may emerge from dynein arm responses to passive sliding direction.
- This mechanism involves facilitation or inhibition of force-generating cycles.
- Oscillation can be self-triggering through mechanical feedback in the absence of hydrodynamic regulation.
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