Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
We are sorry, but NCBI web applications do not support your browser and may not function properly. More information
    Nat Rev Microbiol. 2008 Jun;6(6):466-76. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro1900. Epub 2008 May 7.

    The surprisingly diverse ways that prokaryotes move.

    Source

    Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's University, Kingston, K7L 3N6 Ontario, Canada. jarrellk@queensu.ca

    Abstract

    Prokaryotic cells move through liquids or over moist surfaces by swimming, swarming, gliding, twitching or floating. An impressive diversity of motility mechanisms has evolved in prokaryotes. Movement can involve surface appendages, such as flagella that spin, pili that pull and Mycoplasma 'legs' that walk. Internal structures, such as the cytoskeleton and gas vesicles, are involved in some types of motility, whereas the mechanisms of some other types of movement remain mysterious. Regardless of the type of motility machinery that is employed, most motile microorganisms use complex sensory systems to control their movements in response to stimuli, which allows them to migrate to optimal environments.

    PMID:
    18461074
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for Nature Publishing Group

      Save items

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk