Unsolved motility looking for answer

Abstract

A rod-like axostyle complex turns the anterior end of a termite flagellate, including the plasma membrane, continually in the same direction relative to the rest of the cell at speeds up to ∼1 Hz. This motility provides direct visual evidence for the fluid nature of cell membranes. Torque is generated along the length of the axostyle complex by an unknown mechanism. Here I describe findings not published before and promising experiments that may help to solve this remarkable motility. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.