Myxococcus xanthus

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Scientific classification

Description and significance

Myxococcus xanthus is a social organism, which are self-organized, saprotrophic and predatory. M. Xanthus is a rod shaped, gram negative bacteria, which uses a form of gliding for locomotion. There's been recent discovery of two types of systems used for locomotion. The first system is type IV pilli, which is used as a type of hook. The second system is mucus secreting, which tend to form sites of focal adhesion. During starvation periods M. xanthus tends to form fruiting bodies. Within these fruiting bodies there are spores. These spores will germinate in order to return to a vegetative cycle as soon as conditions are favorable.

Genome structure

M. xanthus is one of the largest prokaryotic genomes to be sequenced.

Current research

Current locomotion studies have revealed that the synchronizing of both motor systems is due to spatial oscillation of motility proteins.

References

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myxococcus_xanthus>

<http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Mycoccus_xanthus>

<Genetic circuitry controlling motility behaviors of Myxococcus xanthus Taˆ m Mignot1* and John R. Kirby2 >

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