Cilia and flagella contain a structure called an axoneme at their centers (see INTERNET LINK here). An axoneme is composed of microtubules.
The internal structure of the axoneme
is truly remarkable. The most obvious feature is the arrangement
of microtubules known as a 9 + 2 array: Two central microtubules
ringed by nine microtubule doublets. The single microtubules in
the center are complete, each having 13 of ![]()
tubulin
dimers. By contrast, each of the nine surrounding doublets is
composed of one complete microtubule to which is fused an incomplete
microtubule, carrying only 10 or 11 protofilaments. Closer inspection
of electron micrographs reveals even greater complexity, as diagrammed
in Figure 8.23. The outer doublets
are periodically interconnected by a protein called nexin
and carry at regular intervals sidearms composed of the protein
dynein. In addition, radial spokes,
each consisting of a head and an arm, project from the outer doublets
to connect with the central pair.
INTERNET LINK: Normal
Human Axoneme