Mastigoneme

From Palaeos

Flagellar "hairs" found in the Chromista and Alveolata (= Chromalveolata). The mastigonemes of Euglena are unusually long. The mastigonemes probably function by flexing, so that the effective cross-sectional area of the flagellum is increased during the power stroke and reduced during the recovery stroke. Nakamura et al. (1996). Mastigonemes are composed largely of glycoproteins. Mastigonemes may be tubular or nontubular. Tubular and nontubular mastigonemes may be present on the same flagellum. Tubular mastigonemes are longer and rooted on the flagellar axoneme. [In fact they'd make a pretty good model for an intermediate state ending in the evolution of cilia from flagella.] The mastigonemes are arranged regularly-spaced clusters.

[edit] References

Nakamura, S, G Tanaka, T Maeda, R Kamiya, T Matsunaga & O Nikaido (1996), Assembly and function of Chlamydomonas flagellar mastigonemes as probed with a monoclonal antibody. J. Cell Sci. 109, 57-62.

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