Time-Lapse Photomicrography of Lashing, Flexing, and Snapping Movements in Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium Microcultures

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Hoffman, Heiner (New York University, New York, N.Y.), and Michael E. Frank. Time-lapse photomicrography of lashing, flexing, and snapping movements in Escherichia coli and Corynebacterium microcultures. J. Bacteriol. 90:789–795. 1965.—A series of four consecutive photomicrographs of snapping by an Escherichia coli cell pair indicates that this maneuver consists initially of lashing movements of one cell unattached to the underlying surface and consequent flexion of the second cell, which is strongly attached to the underlying surface at its distal end. This is followed by a final unidirectional movement of the unattached cell which carries the attached cell with it. Lashing movements were also observed in microcultures of fusobacteria and a Corynebacterium, and photomicrographs were obtained of the latter. The observations cannot be interpreted to support the conventional hypothesis that snapping is a response to partial rupture of the capsule during cell division. A new hypothesis is suggested which is based upon motile intracellular granules that have been observed to break out of E. coli, corynebacteria, and fusobacteria cells, typically from the cell ends. Photomicrographs of the minute granules were obtained for both E. coli and the Corynebacterium.

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