Flagellar movement

A second aspect of the chemiosmotic coupling theory postulates that the proton-motive force (pmf) drives energy-consuming processes in the membrane by a reversed flow of protons [8] (Fig. 2). The energy of AjSji is thus either converted into ATP by a reversed action of the ATPase complex, or drives osmotic work such as the formation of solute gradients by secondary transport or drives mechanical work such as flagellar movements. 

A given spermatozoon can change its direction of rotation, indicating that the three-dimensional geometry of flagellar movement can change... 

Yanagisawa, T., S. Hasegawa, and H. Mohri. 1968. The bound nucleotides of the isolated microtubules of sea-urchin sperm flagella and their possible role in flagellar movement. Exp. Cell Res., 52 86-100. 

As already mentioned, molecular cross talk seems to be the prerequisite mechanism for most of root microbial infections. Indeed the initial step of any root colonization involves the movement of microbes to the plant root surface bacterial movement can be passive, via soil water flux, or active, via specific induction of flagellar activity by plant released compounds (chemotaxis) (Chaps. 4 and 7). Other important steps are adsorption and anchoring to the root surface. 

The movement is processive, kinesin motors typically taking 100 steps before dissociating from the microtubule.201 2123 Kinesin is bound to the microtubule continuously. Its duty ratio is nearly 1.0 (the same is true for the bacterial flagellar motor ... 

Fang Y-I, Yokota E, Mabuchi I, Nakamura H, Ohizumi Y (1997) Purealin Blocks the Sliding Movement of Sea Urchin Flagellar Axonemes by Selective Inhibition of Half the ATPase Activity of Axonemal Dyneins. Biochemistry 36 15561... 

The isothermal conversion of chemical energy into mechanical work is the base of motility of all living organisms, and it is manifested of all levels of structural organisation, namely 1) molecular motility, which is based on the conformational changes of the proteins macromolecules 2) intracelular movements (flagellar or ciliar), contraction of muscular fibres, heart beats, plants movement and 3) movement of pluricellular organisms (locomotion). 

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