BACTERIAL FLAGELLA Flashcards
What is the most important characteristic in flagella?
the mode of insertion of flagella (peritrichous or polar)
T/F:
Bacterial flagella are beyond the limit of resolution of the light microscope
TRUE
How do you observe flagella using the light microscope?
the thickness of the flagella are increased by coating them with mordants such as tannic acid & potassium alum and staining them with silver nitrate
Does the mordant also helps increase the diameter of the flagellum?
Yes the mordant incorporates the stain into the precipitate and hence increases contrast
Does precipitation of the mordant occur on flagella?
Precipitation of the mordant does not occur on flagella
What is the difference between peritrichous and polar flagella?
Polar flagella were eluted with a higher concentration of phosphate than those of peritrichous flagella
What is the function of the mordant for the flagella stain?
To make them thick enough to see using an oil immersion objective
What is petrichous?
all around cell
non polar
What are the three types of polar flagellas?
- monotrichous
- lophotrichous
- amphitrichous
What are the differences of mono-, lopho-, and amphitrichous?
- Mono: 1 flagella
- Lopho: many/clusters of flagella
- Amphi: flaggela at both ends
What type of microorganism was prepared and studied for the bacterial flagella experiment?
Proteus species
