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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...
Studying the Cytoskeleton01:17

Studying the Cytoskeleton

The cytoskeletal architecture can be studied using different microscopic and biochemical techniques. Electron microscopy was instrumental in discovering the cytoskeletal architecture around the 1960s, which allowed obtaining structural information at a high-resolution level. However, the sample preparation procedure often limits this ability in biological samples. Several protocols have been developed over the years to optimize sample preparation. In one of the protocols known as rotary...
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...
Introduction to the Cytoskeleton01:33

Introduction to the Cytoskeleton

Overview of the Cytoskeleton
The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments present within the cell, having three distinct filaments ̶   microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Each has characteristic features that distinguish them, including the dynamics of their assembly and disassembly, mechanical properties, polarity, and the type of molecular motors associated with them. Earlier, they were thought to be present only in eukaryotic cells; however, their homologs were...
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Application of High-speed Super-resolution SPEED Microscopy in Live Primary Cilium
07:53

Application of High-speed Super-resolution SPEED Microscopy in Live Primary Cilium

Published on: January 16, 2018

Structural studies of ciliary components.

Naoko Mizuno1, Michael Taschner, Benjamin D Engel

  • 1Department of Structural Cell Biology, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, D-82152 Martinsried, Germany. mizuno@biochem.mpg.de

Journal of Molecular Biology
|June 12, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Recent structural studies reveal the intricate architecture of cilia and intraflagellar transport (IFT) complexes. These advances enhance our understanding of ciliary function in motility and signaling.

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Application of High-speed Super-resolution SPEED Microscopy in Live Primary Cilium
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Application of High-speed Super-resolution SPEED Microscopy in Live Primary Cilium

Published on: January 16, 2018

Observation of the Ciliary Movement of Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells Ex Vivo
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Observation of the Ciliary Movement of Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells Ex Vivo

Published on: July 13, 2015

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Cilia are crucial organelles involved in cell motility, sensory reception, and signaling.
  • Recent technological advancements, particularly in electron tomography, have enabled high-resolution structural studies of ciliary components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent progress in understanding the structure and mechanism of ciliary components.
  • To highlight new insights into intraflagellar transport (IFT) complexes and their role in ciliary assembly.

Main Methods:

  • Electron tomography for nanometer-resolution ultrastructural studies.
  • X-ray crystallography for high-resolution structures of protein complexes.
  • Three-dimensional modeling of in situ IFT material.

Main Results:

  • Detailed structures of axonemal dynein, microtubule arrangements, basal bodies, and associated complexes.
  • Insights into the architecture and mechanism of dynein and the centriolar protein SAS-6.
  • Emerging structural data on IFT complexes, including in situ organization and subcomplex structures like IFT25/27.

Conclusions:

  • Recent structural studies have significantly advanced our knowledge of ciliary architecture and function.
  • Understanding the structure of IFT complexes is key to deciphering ciliary assembly and maintenance.
  • This review synthesizes recent findings to provide a comprehensive overview of ciliary structural biology.