Flagellation as a criterion for the classification of bacteria.

Rhodes, M E

doi:10.1128/mmbr.29.4.442-465.1965

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…One might optimistically conclude that whilst the structural features of bacterial flagella become more clearly delineated with the publication of each new report, biomechanical considerations co-ordinating such information into a unifying theory of procaryotic motion remain purely speculative. Rhodes (1965) has written that the distinction between the ' nine plus two ' fibril structure of eucaryotic flagellum and the procaryotic flagellum is not of importance in evolutionary terms, and she suggests that the difference may be referable to considerations of size and secondary adaptations. If, as Newton & Kerridge (1965) claim, cell movements must be explained, in the end, at the molecular level, and if all movements in biological systems do indeed have a common molecular basis, then one must rely on the faithfulness with which the biophysical and biochemical techniques reveal such levels of structure.…”

Section: (6) Variations In Flagellar Shapementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since a number of reviews concerning various aspects of the 'motility problem' have been published, we will herein list them, and remark only that the present review integrates developments mainly occurring since I 960. Books and reviews which are useful in gaining an insight into the problems and developments of this area of research have been written or edited by Allen & Kamiya (1962), Astbury, Beighton & Weibull (1955), Stocker (1956), Pijper (1957), Leifson (1960), Weibull (1960), Kerridge (1961), Sleigh (1962), Jarosch (1963), Newton & Kerridge (1965), Burge & Holwill(1965), Rhodes (1965), Jahn & Bovee (1965), and Holwill(1966). T h e length of this list attests to the continued attraction the phenomenon of motility has had for biologists of all persuasions and interests.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Motility in Procaryotic Organisms: Problems, Points of View, and Perspectives

1968

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Summary 1. Procaryotic motility mechanisms are more difficult to investigate than those of the generally larger, hence more easily observable, eucaryotic forms. Furthermore, although the function—namely translational locomotion—is the same, the biomechanisms by which this end is accomplished may be, in fact, quite distinct in the two forms. 2. Observational techniques for studying procaryotic motility are relatively crude and qualitative. Progress toward a greater understanding of motility phenomena will be made correlative with advances derived from devising specific techniques involving approaches adapted from electrical engineering, biophysics and cybernetics. 3. There is a great amount of information at hand concerning the qualitative and quantitative chemical composition of procaryotic flagella, but there is no assurance that preparatory techniques include either the entire organelle on the one hand, or do not introduce subtle errors on the other hand. Similarly, the structural features of flagella as derived from electron‐microscope studies of fixed preparations may be themselves influenced by the techniques employed to reveal them. 4. Chemotactic responses of bacteria have been noted almost since the beginning of bacteriology as a formal scientific endeavour, yet the study of transduction of environmental stimuli, using motile bacteria as experimental subjects, is a relatively recent development. We have proposed that the cytoplasmic membrane may act as a non‐specific receptor‐transmitter of such signals in motile bacteria. If this is found to be the case, perhaps a sensory code may be more amenable to discovery here than with more complex forms of organisms. 5. Knowledge of the physical aspects in procaryotic flagellar movement is extremely fragmentary. There is some information on the movements of living functional flagellar fascicles, but this form of movement of an individual flagellum is purely speculative. We have proposed that the procaryotic flagellum is a rigid or semi‐rigid helix, which does not transmit helical waves of contraction, and that its movements are governed by a specialized area of the cytoplasmic membrane. The flagellum may rotate or wobble within the flagellar basal bulb to produce the motion necessary for propulsion. This view ‘explains’ many of the known properties of procaryotic flagella. 6. The basis of gliding motility remains unknown even after a great deal of experimental work. In our view, the secretion of slime is necessary for adhesion to a solid surface, and movement is believed to be mediated by a mechanism involving contractile waves. 7. Studies on procaryotic motility may yield valuable information on certain areas of general biological interest. Among these are: (a) the transduction of environmental stimuli and the sensory code; (b) the development of reproducible observational techniques for quantitative data on the hydrodynamic and biophysical parameters of cell motion in procaryotic forms; (c) the phenomenon of unicellular ‘behaviour’ and the survival value and evo...

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Section: (6) Variations In Flagellar Shapementioning

confidence: 99%