Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria01:18

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

5.3K
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...
5.3K
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

2.4K
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...
2.4K
Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria01:29

Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria

3.4K
Bacterial cells were initially considered simple, randomly organized structures lacking a cytoskeleton. However, the discovery of cytoskeleton homologs in bacteria led to the change of this opinion. Bacterial cytoskeletal filaments regulate the cell shape, cell polarity, cell division, and partitioning of plasmids during cell division. It was later discovered that bacterial cytoskeletal proteins, mainly actin and tubulin homologs, are diverse compared to their eukaryotic counterparts. On the...
3.4K
Chemotaxis in E. coli01:27

Chemotaxis in E. coli

1.4K
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...
1.4K
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

3.3K
Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...
3.3K
Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria01:29

Coordination of Gene Expression Processes in Bacteria

1.1K
The DNA replication, transcription, and translation processes are intricately coupled in bacteria, allowing efficient gene expression and rapid protein synthesis. While this physical and functional coordination is advantageous, it introduces challenges that bacteria overcome through specific regulatory mechanisms.Coupling of Replication, Transcription, and TranslationThe coupling of replication, transcription, and translation is a hallmark of bacterial gene expression. As the replisome unwinds...
1.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Structural basis of the regulation by CDK11 kinase of early spliceosome activation and evidence for its proofreading by DHX15 helicase.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

2'-O-methylation-dependent installation of N<sup>2</sup>-methylguanosine in the U6 internal stem loop facilitates efficient spliceosome assembly.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Controlled route to active turbulence: filling an activity spot with topological defects.

Soft matter·2026
Same author

The dual G9a inhibitor and histamine H3 receptor antagonist A-366 improves repetitive and social behaviors and attenuates neuroinflammation in BTBR T + tf/J mice.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Multitargeted Aza-Arylcarboxamides for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Potent Histamine H<sub>3</sub> Receptor Ligands with Anticholinesterase and Metal-Chelating Activities.

ACS chemical neuroscience·2026
Same author

Neuroinflammatory Human Brain Organoids Enable Comprehensive Drug Screening Studies: Fingolimod and its Analogues in Focus.

Current medicinal chemistry·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
06:08

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Published on: January 18, 2017

7.5K

Rotation-induced polymorphic transitions in bacterial flagella.

Reinhard Vogel1, Holger Stark1

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstrasse 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany.

Physical Review Letters
|August 29, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial flagellar motors can change their torque to initiate polymorphic transformations during tumbling. This torque change explains the distinct flagellar shapes observed in Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Escherichia coli during chemotaxis.

More Related Videos

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
07:59

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Published on: May 10, 2020

7.6K
Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction
04:44

Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction

Published on: February 15, 2022

5.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
06:08

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Published on: January 18, 2017

7.5K
Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
07:59

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Published on: May 10, 2020

7.6K
Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction
04:44

Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction

Published on: February 15, 2022

5.5K

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Bacteria use rotating flagella for motility, enabling chemotaxis through directional changes.
  • Bacterial flagella exhibit polymorphic states during tumbling, a crucial behavior for nutrient seeking.
  • Understanding flagellar dynamics is key to comprehending bacterial navigation and survival.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of motor torque in bacterial flagellar polymorphic transformations.
  • To model the relationship between motor torque and flagellar shape changes during tumbling.
  • To explain specific flagellar transitions observed in Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Escherichia coli.

Main Methods:

  • Development and application of a continuum model for the bacterial motor-flagellum system.
  • Simulation of motor torque variations to observe flagellar responses.
  • Analysis of flagellar polymorphic transitions in response to simulated torque changes.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that changing motor torque can initiate polymorphic transformations in bacterial flagella.
  • Modeled the coiled-to-normal flagellar transition in Rhodobacter sphaeroides during its run-and-stop tumble strategy.
  • Showed that torque reversal in Escherichia coli flagella induces a normal-to-curly transition.

Conclusions:

  • Motor torque is a critical factor controlling bacterial flagellar shape and function during chemotaxis.
  • The continuum model accurately predicts flagellar polymorphic transitions observed in different bacterial species.
  • This research provides mechanistic insights into bacterial motility and navigation strategies.