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Mastigoneme

Mastigonemes are lateral bristles found on the anterior or tinsel flagellum of many heterokonts. These flagella are generally found in pairs, and are of unequal length; the flagellum that does not bear mastigonemes is a whiplash flagellum, smooth and shorter than the other. This irregular length in addition to the bristles at the end make these heterokonts particularly efficient at moving.

Mastigonemes are composed of glycoproteins that are manufactured in the endoplasmic reticulum. One of the more remarkable features of them is that when the tinsel flagellum bearing them moves, their structure creates a backward current that both pulls the cell through a liquid medium (generally water) or brings food closer to the base of the flagella, where it can be captured and ingested.

Mastigonemes have a unique triparte structure. This structure can be used to define the entire group, but if it does, a few protists that are not classified as heterokonts can be classified as mastigonemes. A few of the heterokont lines, most notably the diatom line, have lost their mastigonemes.

Web Resources On Mastigoneme

Flagellar surface antigens in Euglena
Locomotion of Flagellates with Mastigonemes

Book Resources On Mastigoneme

Isolation and identification of allose from ochromonas by H. Kauss
Flagellates : Unity, Diversity and Evolution by Barry S. C. Leadbeater

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