The kinky propulsion of Spiroplasma.
Bacteria have evolved many different means of generating movement. In this issue of Cell, Shaevitz et al. (2005) describe the swimming movement of a helical bacterium called Spiroplasma. They discover that Spiroplasma propels itself by generating two temporally distinct kinks that travel the length of the bacterium. These results point to the existence of a contractile apparatus that drives cell movement.
Wolgemuth
Charles W
CW
University of Connecticut Health Center, Department of Cell Biology, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA.
Charon
Nyles W
NW
D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D013149:Spiroplasma / Q000502:physiology*