5 Questions
What happens when the flagellar motors reverse?
The bundle flies apart and the cell tumbles wildly.
How does the cell's motility change during periods of tumbling (twiddles)?
The cell swims in a different direction after each tumble.
What characterizes a 'run' in terms of bacterial motility?
Continuous swimming in one direction.
How does the flagellar bundle behave when the flagellar motors resume their normal direction?
The bundle reforms and the cell resumes swimming.
What happens to the cell's direction of swimming after each tumble?
It changes to a random direction.
Study Notes
Flagellar Motor Reversal and Bacterial Motility
- When the flagellar motors reverse, the cell's direction of swimming is altered, leading to a change in motility.
Tumbling (Twiddles) Periods
- During tumbling periods, the cell's motility changes, characterized by brief, random movements.
Characteristics of a 'Run'
- A 'run' in bacterial motility is characterized by a period of smooth, consistent movement in a single direction.
Flagellar Bundle Behavior
- When the flagellar motors resume their normal direction, the flagellar bundle unravels and re-forms, allowing the cell to regain its directional swimming.
Post-Tumble Directional Change
- After each tumble, the cell's direction of swimming changes, resulting in a new, randomly determined direction.
Test your knowledge on bacterial flagellar motors and cell tumbling phenomenon. Learn about the conformational changes in flagella, directional changes in bacterial motility, and the sequences of swimming and tumbling in bacterial cells.
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