ISSN:
0886-1544
Keywords:
cilia
;
dynein arm activity
;
axonemal structure
;
hydrodynamics
;
computer modelling
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
The dominance of viscous forces in the generation of propulsive thrust by cilia is emphasised. Fourier analysis indicates that ciliary bends consist of circular arcs joined by linear segments; this arc-line shape appears to be a property associated with the molecular mechanism responsible for bending the cilium and is unchanged by variations in the external viscous loading on the organelle. The flexibility of a computer-generated model of axonemal structure is demonstrated by the incorporation of recent data concerning the surface lattice of the microtubules. Computer simulations using the model show that predictions based on stochastic, rather than co-ordinated, dynein arm activity provide a qualitative match to experimental observations of microtubules gliding over fields of dynein molecules.
Additional Material:
5 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cm.970320209
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