What structures let bacteria be motile?
Question
Is there any specific structure for direction or they just move from point to another floating or by winds?
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Microbial physiology
5 years
2019-10-18T20:59:59+00:00
2019-10-18T20:59:59+00:00 1 Answer
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Answer ( 1 )
The bacteria have the organ for locomotion that helps the bacteria to move freely without any support of other organism. The bacteria that can move are called motile bacteria. The organ for locomotion that makes the bacteria motile is called as flagella.
Flagella:
Flagella are present in the outer surface of bacteria. Flagella are a Latin word that means whip. It is the extracellular component of bacteria that are present outside the cell. Flagella allow the bacteria to move in all 360ᴼ angles. Bacteria move in the form of run and tumble.
Composition:
Flagella are protein in nature. Flagella are hollow tube that protrudes out from the cell. It is composed of flagellin proteins. Its size varies from bacteria to bacteria and range from 20-30 nm.. Their flagella are evolved from type 3 secretary system. There are three parts of flagella.
Basal body is responsible for originating the structure that protrudes out from cell. It is present inside the cell wall. It is a rigid component that consists of the shafts or motor. Shaft allows bacteria to move. Motor moves in clockwise and anticlockwise direction. When shaft move in clockwise direction, bacteria tumble. When shaft moves in anticlockwise direction, bacteria start run.
Basal body consists of the rings that are present in the membrane of the cell wall. Two basal rings are present in gram positive bacteria. These basal rings are named as M that is present in the plasma membrane and S ring that are present in the membrane space. Four basal rings are present in the gram negative bacteria. The two rings are same as gram positive bacteria and two rings are different. The one ring is L ring that is present in lipopolysaccharide layer and the other ring is P ring that is towards the Periplasmic space of the bacteria.
Hook is the component that allows the filament to move outside from the cell. It forms the bridge between the filament and the basal body. It bonds the filament and basal body and form a connection between them.
Filament is the part that is composed of flagellin protein. It is helical part of the flagella. The protein amino acids arrange to form a helical structure. This helical structure makes the flagella a hollow structure. The ribosomes that are responsible for synthesis of the flagellin protein are present in the cytosol of cell. These proteins are transported to the outside of the cell with the help of the transporter proteins. The amino acid adds into the growing tip of the hollow core and synthesizes the filament of flagella.
How bacteria move?
Bacteria move in the response of chemotaxis. Chemotaxis is the process in which bacteria move in response to the chemicals. Chemicals always diffuse from the high gradient to the low gradient. Bacteria move in the response of chemicals. When bacteria tumble, it moves away from the chemicals. When bacteria run, it moves towards the chemicals.
There are two types of chemicals that are faced by the bacteria in their environment.
Attractant:
Attractant are the chemicals that attract the bacteria towards themselves. They may be sugars, amino acids, fatty acids etc. Bacteria move towards attractants to get nutrition and to fulfill their other basic requirements. When bacteria move towards attractants; bacteria run fast and delay its tumbling movement. When bacteria moves away from attractants, bacteria tumble fast and delay its run movement.
Repellant:
Repellent are the chemicals that are toxic for the growth of bacteria. These may be antibiotics, toxins and bacteriocins. These chemicals are produced when bacteria are present in a competitive environment. Bacteria produce different bactericidal and bacteriostatic components for survival in a tough environment. When bacteria move towards repellent; bacteria tumble fast and delay its run movement. When bacteria moves away from repellent, bacteria run fast and delay its tumbling movement
Energy for flagella movement:
Flagella moves with the help of energy. The shaft requires ATP for movement. This ATP is provided to the bacteria by proton motive force (PMF). The protons H+ ions move across the cell membrane against the concentration gradient. This movement generates ATP that is used by the shaft of bacteria. The shaft gets energy and starts moving. The hollow filament starts moving and bacteria glide.
Types of bacteria according to flagella:
There are five types of bacteria according to the flagella.
These bacteria don’t contain any flagellum. They are non-motile bacteria.
These bacteria have only one flagellum for movement. This flagellum is present on the either side of cell.
They have the tuft of flagella on one pole of the cell. Multiple flagella allow the bacteria to move fast in 1 direction.
They have tuft of flagella on both poles of the bacterial cell. But in one time, only one side activates and allows the bacteria to move.
These are the bacteria that whole cell is covered with flagella. They have the flagella in every side of the cell.
Types of bacteria on the basis of flagella positions:
There are two types of bacteria on the basis of flagella positions.
Endoflagella:
Endoflagella is the characteristics of the spirochetes. Their flagella are present inside the cell. They have an outer membrane that covers the flagella. Their flagella surround the bacterial cell and help the bacteria in movement.
Exoflagella:
Exoflagella is present in the outside from the cell. These flagella are the extra cellular component of the cell. The filament is present outside from the cell. Mainly bacteria have Exoflagella.
Flagella staining:
To visualize the flagella, staining is done. Due to its small size, flagella can’t be properly stained. Tannin compound is used to thicken the filament of flagella.
Wet mount method:
Wet mount method is used to identify the number and location of flagella in the cells. The water droplet is added that allows the bacteria to move. The colonies are mixed with water and cover slip is placed. Add 2 drops of RYU flagella stain into the edge of cover slips. It will stain the bacterial flagella. Then, after 5-10 minutes, observe the smear into the microscope.