Figure 5. Revealing intrinsic differences between the two C.reinhardtii flagella.

The two flagella are similar but not identical. In vivo micromanipulation and microsurgery revealed a differential sensitivity to deflagellation-induced intracellular calcium elevation – here inferred indirectly by measuring ciliary beat frequencies in the two flagella of the same cell, after successive rounds of deflagellation and regrowth. The stereotypical trans-flagellum beating mode is markedly faster, has an attenuated waveform, and exhibits greater frequency variations than the cis.