Micromanipulation of the Flagellum of Crithidia Oncopelti

Abstract

1. The behaviour of the flagellum of Crithidia oncopelti when subjected to constriction and dissection by a microprobe was investigated. 2. Constriction of the flagellar tip resulted in wave reversal, whereas dissection of this region allowed normal wave movement. 3. Constriction of the basal region allowed both base-to-tip and tip-to-base propagation. 4. The observed behaviour is more easily explained in terms of a sliding filament model of flagellar movement than by a model which involves local contraction.