Flagella-generated forces reveal gear-type motor in single cells of the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Optically trapped single cells of the biflagellated, green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, rotate. The rotational dynamics of trapped wild-type and mutant cells show that functional flagella play a decisive role: the entire flagellar apparatus (central microtubules, radial spokes, and dynein arms) is involved. Any aberration in this apparatus leads to non-functionality, indicating a gear-type mechanism. The translational and rotational motions of the wild-type and mutant cells do not differ significantly. Optical forces alone do not play a vital role in the rotational dynamics of this cellular motor, making them useful as probes of the internal dynamics without external influence.
D'Souza
Jacinta S
JS
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Department of Biological Sciences, 1 Homi Bhabha Road, Mumbai 400 005, Maharashtra, India.
Gudipati
Mohanram
M
Dharmadhikari
Jayashree A
JA
Dharmadhikari
Aditya K
AK
Kashyap
Abhishek
A
Sivaramakrishnan
Manaswini
M
Aiyer
Manaswini
M
Rao
Usha
U
Mathur
Deepak
D
Rao
Basuthkar J
BJ
D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005407:Flagella / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009154:Mutation; D012399:Rotation