Biomaterial Database

Tactic behavior of Myxococcus xanthus. 1983

M Dworkin

With time-lapse videomicroscopy it was demonstrated that cells of Myxococcus xanthus are capable of directed (tactic) movement toward appropriate targets. Mutants that had lost A motility (J. Hodgkin and D. Kaiser, Mol. Gen. Genet. 171:177-191, 1979) were unable to show directed movement. Cells showed directed movement to polystyrene latex beads and to glass beads, as well as to clumps of Micrococcus luteus. This is consistent with other observations in an accompanying paper (M. Dworkin and D. Eide, J. Bacteriol. 154:437-442, 1983) that indicate that M. xanthus does not perceive chemical gradients.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008837	Micrococcus	A genus of gram-positive, spherical bacteria found in soils and fresh water, and frequently on the skin of man and other animals.
D008858	Microscopy, Phase-Contrast	A form of interference microscopy in which variations of the refracting index in the object are converted into variations of intensity in the image. This is achieved by the action of a phase plate.	Phase-Contrast Microscopy,Microscopies, Phase-Contrast,Microscopy, Phase Contrast,Phase Contrast Microscopy,Phase-Contrast Microscopies
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D009231	Myxococcales	An order of rod-shaped, gram-negative fruiting gliding bacteria found in SOIL; WATER; and HUMUS.	Myxobacterales,Myxobacteria,Polyangiaceae,Polyangium,Slime Bacteria
D011137	Polystyrenes	Polymerized forms of styrene used as a biocompatible material, especially in dentistry. They are thermoplastic and are used as insulators, for injection molding and casting, as sheets, plates, rods, rigid forms and beads.	Polystyrol,Polystyrene,Polystyrols
D002633	Chemotaxis	The movement of cells or organisms toward or away from a substance in response to its concentration gradient.	Haptotaxis
D005898	Glass	Hard, amorphous, brittle, inorganic, usually transparent, polymerous silicate of basic oxides, usually potassium or sodium. It is used in the form of hard sheets, vessels, tubing, fibers, ceramics, beads, etc.
D014743	Videotape Recording	Recording of visual and sometimes sound signals on magnetic tape.	Tape Recording, Video,Videotapes,Recording, Video Tape,Recording, Videotape,Recordings, Video Tape,Recordings, Videotape,Tape Recordings, Video,Video Tape Recording,Video Tape Recordings,Videotape,Videotape Recordings