摘要： The gliding motility of Flavobacterium johnsoniae is driven by moving surface adhesive proteins. Recently, these motility components were observed to travel along a closed loop on the cell surface. The mechanism by which such moving surface adhesins give rise to cell motion remains unknown. On the basis of the unique motility properties of F. johnsoniae, we present a generic model for bidirectional motion of rigidly coupled adhesins, which are propelled in opposite directions. Using analytical and numerical methods, we demonstrate that, for a sufficiently large adhesin speed, bidirectional motion arises from spontaneous symmetry breaking. The model also predicts that, close to the bifurcation point, a weak asymmetry in the binding dynamics is sufficient to facilitate directed motility, indicating that the direction of motion could be sensitively regulated internally in response to inhomogeneity of the environment. 其他題名： Phys Rev Lett 出版者： United States: American Physical Society (APS) 出版日期： 2013-12-11 出處： Physical Review Letters, 2013-12, Vol.111 (24), p.248102, Article 248102 資源來源： American Physical Society Journals 識別號： ISSN: 0031-9007 識別號： ISSN: 1079-7114 識別號： EISSN: 1079-7114 識別號： DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.111.248102 識別號： PMID: 24483703
