Biomaterial Database

Flagella in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes. 1992

D F Blair, and S K Dutcher

Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.

During the past year, significant advances have been made in the understanding of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic flagella. About 50 genes are dedicated to the assembly and operation of bacterial flagella. Recent discoveries have advanced our understanding of how these genes are regulated and how their products assemble into a functional, rotating organelle. The dynein arms of eukaryotic flagella are now also better understood. Several genes that are found in the mechanochemical macroassemblies have been cloned, and other loci have been identified, suggesting that there is even greater complexity than first expected.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008870	Microtubules	Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS.	Microtubule
D008954	Models, Biological	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment.	Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009024	Morphogenesis	The development of anatomical structures to create the form of a single- or multi-cell organism. Morphogenesis provides form changes of a part, parts, or the whole organism.
D009876	Operon	In bacteria, a group of metabolically related genes, with a common promoter, whose transcription into a single polycistronic MESSENGER RNA is under the control of an OPERATOR REGION.	Operons
D011387	Prokaryotic Cells	Cells lacking a nuclear membrane so that the nuclear material is either scattered in the cytoplasm or collected in a nucleoid region.	Cell, Prokaryotic,Cells, Prokaryotic,Prokaryotic Cell
D002465	Cell Movement	The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell.	Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D004398	Dyneins	A family of multi-subunit cytoskeletal motor proteins that use the energy of ATP hydrolysis, generated by a ring of AAA ATPASES in the dynein heavy chain, to power a variety of cellular functions. Dyneins fall into two major classes based upon structural and functional criteria.	ATPase, Dynein,Adenosinetriphosphatase, Dynein,Dynein,Dynein ATPase,Dynein Adenosinetriphosphatase,Dynein Heavy Chain,Dynein Intermediate Chain,Dynein Light Chain,Dynein Light Intermediate Chain,Adenosine Triphosphatase, Dynein,Dynein Heavy Chains,Dynein Intermediate Chains,Dynein Light Chains,Dynein Light Intermediate Chains,Chain, Dynein Heavy,Chain, Dynein Intermediate,Chain, Dynein Light,Chains, Dynein Heavy,Chains, Dynein Intermediate,Chains, Dynein Light,Dynein Adenosine Triphosphatase,Heavy Chain, Dynein,Heavy Chains, Dynein,Intermediate Chain, Dynein,Intermediate Chains, Dynein,Light Chain, Dynein,Light Chains, Dynein
D005057	Eukaryotic Cells	Cells of the higher organisms, containing a true nucleus bounded by a nuclear membrane.	Cell, Eukaryotic,Cells, Eukaryotic,Eukaryotic Cell
D005407	Flagella	A whiplike motility appendage present on the surface cells. Prokaryote flagella are composed of a protein called FLAGELLIN. Bacteria can have a single flagellum, a tuft at one pole, or multiple flagella covering the entire surface. In eukaryotes, flagella are threadlike protoplasmic extensions used to propel flagellates and sperm. Flagella have the same basic structure as CILIA but are longer in proportion to the cell bearing them and present in much smaller numbers. (From King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Flagellum
D005408	Flagellin	A protein with a molecular weight of 40,000 isolated from bacterial flagella. At appropriate pH and salt concentration, three flagellin monomers can spontaneously reaggregate to form structures which appear identical to intact flagella.