Flagellar activity in an aquatic bacterium

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Abstract
The bipolar flagellar fascicles of a gram-negative, floc-forming, aquatic rod were studied. Each fascicle consisted of up to 11 individual flagella of 19-nm diameter with separate insertion sites in the cell wall. Fascicles exhibited three modes of behavior as illustrated by darkfield cinematography, (a) Extended helical fascicles exhibited wave propagation from base to tip at varying speeds with temporary stopping. (b) A fascicle could be retracted into the form of a polar coil as if it were a spring, the process beginning at the distal end and proceeding proximally. Fascicles could be reextended by reversal of this process. (c) An extended fascicle could bend at its base until it lay adjacent to the cell wall. This was preceded by an increase in wavelength and amplitude at the distal end which progressively affected the entire fascicle. After bending, a fascicle could swing back out again into the extended configuration. Despite the intense activity of the flagellar fascicles, the cells were found to be unable to swim about. Several possible explanations for this lack of motility are discussed. The unusual features of the flagellar activity are related to current concepts of the mechanisms of flagellar motion.

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