Chemotaxis Slides

Chemotaxis, also called chemotaxis, is the way cells move in response to chemicals present. These chemicals are called chemoattractants when they attract. One of the best known examples of chemotaxis is the attraction of sperm that are competent to do so to the oocyte by a concentration gradient of a chemoattractant secreted by the oocyte itself.

But there are also chemicals that can repel the target organism, known as chemoattractants. Finding food (e.g. glucose) by moving towards its highest concentration is very important for bacteria, as well as avoiding harmful agents (such as phenol).

Chemotaxis exists in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. A wide range of techniques is available to assess the chemotactic activity of cells as well as the chemoattractant or chemorecaller character of ligands. The basic requirements for measurements are as follows

• that the concentration gradient can develop relatively quickly and can remain in the system for a long time.
• that chemotactic and chemokinetic activities are distinguishable.
• that the migration of the cells is free in the two opposite directions along the axis of the concentration gradient
• the detected response is the result of active cell migration.