Towards a model for Flavobacterium gliding.

ABSTRACT: Cells of Flavobacterium johnsoniae, a rod-shaped bacterium about 6 μm long, do not have flagella or pili, yet they move over surfaces at speeds of about 2 μm/s. This motion is called gliding. Recent advances in F. johnsoniae research include the discovery of mobile cell-surface adhesins and rotary motors. The puzzle is how rotary motion leads to linear motion. We suggest a possible mechanism, inspired by the snowmobile.

SUBMITTER: Shrivastava A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4688146 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature