Chiral gliding: Right-handed navigation of filamentous cyanobacteria.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biophysics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Cyanobacteria pioneered oxygenic photosynthesis, shaping Earth's atmosphere and enabling complex life.
• Many cyanobacteria species possess gliding motility for environmental navigation and adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the gliding motility of filamentous cyanobacteria, specifically *Lyngbya lagerheimii*.
• Analyze motility transitions between different physical environments.

Main Methods:

• Observation of *Lyngbya lagerheimii* gliding on dry surfaces.
• Analysis of filament curvature and turning behavior.
• Development of a chiral motility model.

Main Results:

• On dry surfaces, *Lyngbya lagerheimii* filaments exhibit rightward-turning, curved gliding.
• Filament curvature is maintained during direction reversal, enabling leftward turns along slime traces.
• A model explains bending via right-handed rotation and velocity mismatch.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals a unique chiral motility mechanism in filamentous cyanobacteria.
• This mechanism facilitates macroscale structural chirality transfer and physical navigation.
• The findings offer insights into microbial adaptation and movement in complex environments.