Active Phase and Amplitude Fluctuations of Flagellar Beating

Rui Ma, Gary S. Klindt, Ingmar H. Riedel-Kruse, Frank Jülicher, and Benjamin M. Friedrich
Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 048101 – Published 21 July 2014
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

The eukaryotic flagellum beats periodically, driven by the oscillatory dynamics of molecular motors, to propel cells and pump fluids. Small but perceivable fluctuations in the beat of individual flagella have physiological implications for synchronization in collections of flagella as well as for hydrodynamic interactions between flagellated swimmers. Here, we characterize phase and amplitude fluctuations of flagellar bending waves using shape mode analysis and limit-cycle reconstruction. We report a quality factor of flagellar oscillations Q=38.0±16.7 (mean±s.e.). Our analysis shows that flagellar fluctuations are dominantly of active origin. Using a minimal model of collective motor oscillations, we demonstrate how the stochastic dynamics of individual motors can give rise to active small-number fluctuations in motor-cytoskeleton systems.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 27 January 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.048101

© 2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Rui Ma1,2, Gary S. Klindt1, Ingmar H. Riedel-Kruse3, Frank Jülicher1, and Benjamin M. Friedrich1,*

  • 1Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
  • 2Institute for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University, 100084 Beijing, China
  • 3Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA

  • *benjamin.friedrich@pks.mpg.de

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 113, Iss. 4 — 25 July 2014

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Letters

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×