Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Chemotaxis in E. coli

Chemotaxis in E. coli

Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli is a sensory-driven motility mechanism that enables bacteria to navigate chemical gradients, moving toward beneficial environments while avoiding harmful conditions. This process relies on a signal transduction system integrating external chemical cues with flagellar motor control.Chemoreceptors and Signal DetectionE. coli detects chemical gradients through methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), which are membrane-bound chemoreceptors that sense attractants...

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Chemotaxis and Direction of Cell Migration

Cells can detect chemical cues in their environment and reorganize the cytoskeleton to migrate toward them or away from them. This directional migration, called chemotaxis, is essential during embryogenesis and development, immune response, tissue repair and regeneration, and reproduction. These chemical cues can either attract or repel the cell's movement. For example, axon development is determined by a combination of chemoattractants and chemorepellents that direct the growing axon towards...

Chemiosmosis and ATP Synthesis

Chemiosmosis and ATP Synthesis

The electron transport chain is a critical component of cellular respiration, occurring in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It facilitates the transfer of high-energy electrons from reduced cofactors NADH and FADH₂ to molecular oxygen, the final electron acceptor. This transfer of electrons through a series of protein complexes is tightly coupled to the translocation of protons across the membrane, generating a proton gradient essential for ATP synthesis.Electron Flow and Proton...

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

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...

Microtubules in Cell Motility

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...

Electron Transport Chain Components

Electron Transport Chain Components

The electron transport chain (ETC) is a crucial metabolic pathway that facilitates energy conversion in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. In eukaryotes, the ETC comprises four membrane-associated protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In prokaryotes, the ETC in the plasma membrane can vary in composition, with fewer or different complexes depending on the organism and environmental conditions. These complexes transfer electrons from electron donors, such as NADH and FADH2, to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The first mutation in CNGA2 in two brothers with anosmia.

Clinical genetics·2014

Same author

X-linked congenital ptosis and associated intellectual disability, short stature, microcephaly, cleft palate, digital and genital abnormalities define novel Xq25q26 duplication syndrome.

Human genetics·2013

Same author

Gliding Tetrahymena thermophila: Oriented chemokinesis in a ciliate.

European journal of protistology·2012

Same author

Characteristics of dividing and non-dividing Tetrahymena cells at different physiological states.

European journal of protistology·2012

Same author

Genetic studies in congenital anterior midline cervical cleft.

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2012

Same author

Genetic heterogeneity in Pakistani microcephaly families.

Clinical genetics·2012

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

Measurement of Cellular Chemotaxis with ECIS/Taxis

Measurement of Cellular Chemotaxis with ECIS/Taxis

Published on: April 1, 2012

Chemotaxis in tetrahymena.

P Hellung-Larsen¹, V Leick, N Tommerup

¹Department of Biochemistry B, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

European Journal of Protistology

|December 1, 2012

Summary

Tetrahymena thermophila cells exhibit chemotaxis, orienting their movement towards attractants like proteose peptone. This directed cell migration occurs without changes in swimming speed, confirming true chemotaxis.

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Microbiology
Biophysics

Background:

Chemotaxis is crucial for single-celled organisms to navigate chemical gradients.
Understanding the directed locomotion of microorganisms like Tetrahymena is fundamental to cell biology.

Purpose of the Study:

To demonstrate and analyze chemotaxis in Tetrahymena thermophila using motion analysis.
To quantify the oriented movement of cells in response to specific chemoattractants.

Main Methods:

Utilized a modified Zigmond chamber to establish chemoattractant gradients.
Employed electronic registration of swimming tracks for motion analysis of Tetrahymena thermophila.
Tested attractants including proteose peptone, platelet extract, and fibroblast growth factor.

More Related Videos

C. elegans Chemotaxis Assay

C. elegans Chemotaxis Assay

Published on: April 27, 2013

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Published on: January 31, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 16, 2026

Measurement of Cellular Chemotaxis with ECIS/Taxis

Measurement of Cellular Chemotaxis with ECIS/Taxis

Published on: April 1, 2012

C. elegans Chemotaxis Assay

C. elegans Chemotaxis Assay

Published on: April 27, 2013

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Generating Controlled, Dynamic Chemical Landscapes to Study Microbial Behavior

Published on: January 31, 2020

Main Results:

65% of Tetrahymena thermophila cells oriented towards attractants, compared to 51% in controls.
Cell migration was solely due to oriented movement (chemotaxis), as swimming speed remained unaffected.
Similar chemotactic responses were observed in Tetrahymena pyriformis cells.

Conclusions:

Tetrahymena species demonstrate clear chemotaxis in response to various attractants.
The study confirms that directed cell migration is the primary mechanism, not altered swimming speed.