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How Do Microrganisms Move?


Silencer

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I've seen movies of individual cells and such moving about with their little cilia or fimbria and such, and I've always wondered how they actually do it. Same with muscle cells.

 

I mean, they are just some bags of protein with water inside! What actually causes those proteins to move? To me it's the same as supposing that the molecules in some chemistry experiment are going to start swimming around!

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It's all energy (ATP) dependent. Muscle fibres consist of actin and myosin. Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP + Pi causes a conformational change in the myosin protein which causes a shortening of the muscle. It's a bit tricky to explain in words, so I'll try and find some diagrams.

 

I assume the principle is similar for other contractile proteins, but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

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Well, it's very different for the various types of molecular locomotion.First, it's important to understand that the locomotion organs are not single protein, but a system of proteins.

Secondly, it differs from system to system what kind of energy is being used: for instance, the eubacterial flagellum for instance, utilizes a gradiant of protons to spin its filament, while cilia uses ATP for moving the dynein-arms.

 

For extra info check:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagella

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilium

 

I mean, they are just some bags of protein with water inside! What actually causes those proteins to move? To me it's the same as supposing that the molecules in some chemistry experiment are going to start swimming around!

 

Well not really - you give the cells to little credit! :)

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