Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

Generation of Straight or Branched Actin Filaments

The straight or branched structure formation of actin filaments is controlled by nucleating proteins such as the formins and Arp2/3 complex. Formin-mediated assembly results in straight filaments, whereas Arp2/3 protein complex-mediated assembly results in branched actin filaments.
Arp2/3 Complex
Arp2/3 complex is a seven-subunit complex consisting of two proteins similar to actin- Arp2 and Arp3, and five other subunits that help keep Arp2 and Arp3 inactive. When required, the complex is...

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin Filament Depolymerization

Actin filaments (F-actin) are composed of actin subunits. The dissociation of actin monomers can occur from either end of F-actin. The rate of dissociation is faster from the minus-end or the pointed end, where the actin subunits exist with a bound ADP, together known as ADP-actin. The depolymerization of F-actin is aided by proteins, including the actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin family of proteins, gelsolin, and glia maturation factor (GMF).
In F-actin, the ADF/cofilin proteins...

Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria

Cytoskeletal Proteins in Bacteria

Bacterial cells were initially considered simple, randomly organized structures lacking a cytoskeleton. However, the discovery of cytoskeleton homologs in bacteria led to the change of this opinion. Bacterial cytoskeletal filaments regulate the cell shape, cell polarity, cell division, and partitioning of plasmids during cell division. It was later discovered that bacterial cytoskeletal proteins, mainly actin and tubulin homologs, are diverse compared to their eukaryotic counterparts. On the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Gut microbiome features associated with Bifidobacterium colonization predict personalized probiotic persistence patterns.

Nature communications·2026

Same author

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction: Adaptive Restriction or Psychopathology?

Gastroenterology·2026

Same author

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of gut health.

Nature reviews. Gastroenterology & hepatology·2026

Same author

Soy and the gut microbiome: a bi-directional relationship shaping nutrition and health.

European journal of nutrition·2026

Same author

Evaluating the rumen microbial community of genetically divergent spring-calving dairy cows grazing grass-only or grass-clover swards at different stages of the grazing season.

Frontiers in microbiology·2025

Same author

Iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin preserves microbiota diversity and healthy ageing-associated taxa in an in vitro colon model of elderly gut microbiota (Iron-saturated bovine lactoferrin impact on elderly gut microbiota).

PloS one·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Published on: May 10, 2020

The FliK protein and flagellar hook-length control.

Richard C Waters¹, Paul W O'Toole, Kieran A Ryan

¹Department of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.

Protein Science : a Publication of the Protein Society

|April 26, 2007

Summary

Bacterial flagellum assembly relies on the FliK protein to control hook length. This review explores hypotheses for how FliK acts as a molecular ruler to ensure proper flagellar biosynthesis.

More Related Videos

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Published on: January 18, 2017

FtsZ Polymerization Assays: Simple Protocols and Considerations

FtsZ Polymerization Assays: Simple Protocols and Considerations

Published on: November 16, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series

Published on: May 10, 2020

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Published on: January 18, 2017

FtsZ Polymerization Assays: Simple Protocols and Considerations

FtsZ Polymerization Assays: Simple Protocols and Considerations

Published on: November 16, 2013

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Cell Biology

Background:

The bacterial flagellum is a complex organelle essential for motility, conferring a significant adaptive advantage.
Flagellar biogenesis is a highly coordinated process involving multiple systems, including a type III secretion system for component export.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current knowledge of the FliK protein's function in bacterial flagellar assembly.
To discuss proposed mechanisms by which FliK regulates flagellar hook length.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing research on FliK and flagellar assembly.
Analysis and comparison of various hypotheses explaining FliK's role.

Main Results:

FliK acts as a checkpoint protein, detecting optimal flagellar hook length.
FliK signals the termination of hook export and initiates filament export, the final stage of biosynthesis.

Conclusions:

The precise mechanism of FliK-mediated hook length control remains unknown.
Several hypotheses, including the molecular ruler and measuring cup theories, are discussed regarding FliK's function.