Flagella

Flagella are whip-like structures that allow cells to move. They are found in all three domains of the cellular world: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. In bacteria, flagella are long, thin, whip-like appendages attached to the cell by a basal body.

Structure

The structure of flagella is very complex. The basal body is the motor of the flagellum, and is located in the cell membrane. It is powered by a flow of protons across the membrane, which is generated by the cell's metabolism. The filament is the long, whip-like part of the flagellum, which is made up of a protein called flagellin.

Function

The main function of flagella is to enable cell movement. The flagellum rotates like a propeller, pushing the cell forward. The direction of rotation determines whether the cell moves forward or backward. In addition to movement, flagella also play a role in adhesion and biofilm formation.

Types of Flagella

There are three types of flagella: bacterial flagella, archaeal flagella, and eukaryotic flagella. Bacterial and archaeal flagella are similar in function but different in structure, while eukaryotic flagella are completely different both in structure and function.

Bacterial Flagella

Bacterial flagella are made up of the protein flagellin. They are helical filaments that rotate like a propeller, allowing the bacterium to move.

Archaeal Flagella

Archaeal flagella are similar to bacterial flagella in function, but they are composed of different proteins and have a different structure.

Eukaryotic Flagella

Eukaryotic flagella are completely different from bacterial and archaeal flagella. They are composed of microtubules in a "9+2" arrangement, and they move by a process known as "axonemal beating".

See Also

• Cilia
• Pseudopodia
• Cell motility

References

Flagella Resources
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