A Grow-and-Lock Model for the Control of Flagellum Length in Trypanosomes (Current Biology)

Bertiaux et al. provide evidence for a grow-and-lock model where the flagellum elongates before a locking event takes place in a timely defined manner, preventing further elongation or shortening. Manipulating the flagellum growth rate or the timing of cell division results in the production of flagella of different length.