Synchrony and symmetry-breaking in active flagellar coordination

Area of Science:

• Cellular locomotion
• Microbial motility
• Biophysics of cilia and flagella

Background:

• Locomotion in living organisms is diverse and typically controlled by nervous systems.
• Microorganisms utilize cilia and flagella for swimming, analogous to macroscopic gaits.
• The precise mechanisms of microbial locomotion patterning remain an active area of research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the active nature of locomotor patterning in algal flagella.
• To reveal the role of flagella as a central pattern generator for coordinated movement.
• To explore the potential for non-neural mechanisms in generating complex motility patterns.

Main Methods:

• Experimental analysis of algal flagellar dynamics.
• Demonstration of intermittency, reversible rhythmogenesis, and gait mechanosensitivity.
• Investigation of flagellar network encoding and symmetry-breaking mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Algal flagella exhibit active locomotor patterning, including intermittency and reversible rhythmogenesis.
• The flagellar apparatus functions as a central pattern generator, encoding flagellar beating in a network.
• A novel symmetry-breaking mechanism for cell reorientation was identified.

Conclusions:

• Complex locomotor patterns can be generated without neural circuitry.
• Simple unicellular organisms possess the minimal components for sophisticated motility.
• Flagellar networks offer insights into non-neural control of movement and cell reorientation.