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A method for measuring bacterial chemotaxis parameters in a microcapillary
Author(s) -
Liu Zewen,
Papadopoulos Kyriakos D.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0290(19960705)51:1<120::aid-bit14>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - chemotaxis , capillary action , diffusion , chemistry , biological system , chromatography , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , biology , physics , thermodynamics , biochemistry , receptor , composite material
A new method was developed which enables chemotaxis parameters to be measured at a single‐cell level inside a capillary for the first time. The chemotaxis chamber consists of two reservoirs communicating through a capillary tube 50 μm in diameter. Chemotaxis parameters are measured inside the capillary using image analysis, after a nearly linear attractant concentration gradient has been generated along the capillary by diffusion. Compared to previously published techniques, this method provides a well‐characterized chemoattractant concentration profile in addition to allowing single‐cell parameters to be measured inside a fine capillary. This procedure was used to measure the single‐cell chemotaxis parameters for Escherichia coli K12, and the results are compared to published data on single E. coli cells chemotaxing in bulk. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.