A model where the contraction travel along the centriole axis, making the paddles act as if helical, pumping water through through the center and outwards
The contraction of dynein motor proteins between the arms in the centriole acts like a pulse that travels along the centriole axis, the result is that the paddles rotate as if at a slanting axis, so that they roughly follow a spiral around the center, making them similar to a pump that rotates and gently pumps water along the central axis.
As the centriole pumps cytosol along its own axis, powered by contraction of dynein motor proteins and regulated by ca2+ concentration, the cytosol is also "twirled" at the distal ends of the centriole, as it is pushed outwards between the paddles of the centriole, sometimes mistaken as "distal appendages".
The "vortex" that has been observed in the lumen of the centriole is a water vortex
The spiral structure of the centriole during contraction pumps cytosol along the central axis, forming a vortex that is visible in electron photographs.[1, 2]
Nice to know about this excellent information
I think this is a good model for centriole function.
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