Fig 6.

Schematic of the effects of sialylated compound on mycoplasma movements. (A) Reduction of gliding speed. (Top) Without free sialylated compounds. (Bottom) With free sialylated compounds. The white arrows show the force pulling the glass. The black arrows show the force required to remove the leg from the glass after a stroke. The dotted arrow shows the movement of the glass relative to the cell. The legs were removed from the glass surface after a stroke by the continuous movement of the cell. The number of working legs decreases when the legs catch the free sialylated compound, resulting in a decrease in the force needed to remove the legs after a stroke. (B) Cell pivoting after addition of free sialylated compounds. Shown is the lower side of a gliding M. mobile cell as viewed through the glass. The leg movements, cell pivoting, and gliding direction are indicated by small solid, dashed, and large solid arrows, respectively. (Left) Without free sialylated compounds. (Right) With free sialylated compounds. The number of working legs decreases when the legs catch the free sialylated compound. The decrease in propulsion force reduces the removal of legs after a stroke. The remaining legs form the center of the resulting pivot motion. The stroke timing of individual legs is unknown.