1932

Abstract

Bacterial gliding motility is the smooth movement of cells on solid surfaces unaided by flagella or pili. Many diverse groups of bacteria exhibit gliding, but the mechanism of gliding motility has remained a mystery since it was first observed more than a century ago. Recent studies on the motility of , a soil myxobacterium, suggest a likely mechanism for gliding in this organism. About forty genes were shown to be involved in gliding motility, and some of their protein products were labeled and localized within cells. These studies suggest that gliding motility in involves large multiprotein structural complexes, regulatory proteins, and cytoskeletal filaments. In this review, we summarize recent experiments that provide the basis for this emerging view of motility. We also discuss alternative models for gliding.

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/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-genet-110410-132547
2011-12-15
2024-04-19
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  • Article Type: Review Article
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