title: Bacterial gliding motility: multiple mechanisms for cell movement over surfaces.
abstract: The mechanisms responsible for bacterial gliding motility have been a mystery for almost 200 years. Gliding bacteria move actively over surfaces by a process that does not involve flagella. Gliding bacteria are phylogenetically diverse and are abundant in many environments. Recent results indicate that more than one mechanism is needed to explain all forms of bacterial gliding motility. Myxococcus xanthus "social gliding motility" and Synechocystis gliding are similar to bacterial "twitching motility" and rely on type IV pilus extension and retraction for cell movement. In contrast, gliding of filamentous cyanobacteria, mycoplasmas, members of the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium group, and "adventurous gliding" of M. xanthus do not appear to involve pili. The mechanisms of movement employed by these bacteria are still a matter of speculation. Genetic, biochemical, ultrastructural, and behavioral studies are providing insight into the machineries employed by these diverse bacteria that enable them to glide over surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, P. O. Box 413, Wisconsin 53201, USA. mcbride@uwm.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D005417:Flavobacterium / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000502:physiology; D016940:Myxococcus / Q000502:physiology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides