Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria01:18

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...
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts01:57

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts01:57

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
Chemotaxis in E. coli01:27

Chemotaxis in E. coli

Chemotaxis in Escherichia coli is a sensory-driven motility mechanism that enables bacteria to navigate chemical gradients, moving toward beneficial environments while avoiding harmful conditions. This process relies on a signal transduction system integrating external chemical cues with flagellar motor control.Chemoreceptors and Signal DetectionE. coli detects chemical gradients through methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), which are membrane-bound chemoreceptors that sense attractants...
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

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...
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Optimizing genomics-aware clinical agents in precision oncology.

NPJ systems biology and applications·2026
Same author

The stage-wise macromolecular assembly and structure evolution of silk along the silk gland.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Influence of nicotine concentration and flavours on mouth level exposure and puffing topography among regular e-cigarette consumers in New Zealand.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Polypropylene Versus Polydioxanone Sutures for Fascial Closure in Emergency Midline Laparotomy: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Cureus·2026
Same author

Conquering the Challenge: Difficult Gallbladders and Delicate Solutions.

Cureus·2026
Same author

Iatrogenic risk and anatomical variability of the posterior tibial nerve bifurcation relative to the Dellon-McKinnon line: Assessing safety in medial ankle procedures.

Foot and ankle surgery : official journal of the European Society of Foot and Ankle Surgeons·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
07:59

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

Published on: May 10, 2020

The bacterial flagellar switch complex is getting more complex.

Galit N Cohen-Ben-Lulu1, Noreen R Francis, Eyal Shimoni

  • 1Department of Biological Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.

The EMBO Journal
|March 14, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered fumarate reductase (FRD) is crucial for bacterial flagellar rotation and assembly. This respiratory enzyme unexpectedly functions in flagellar switching even under aerobic conditions.

More Related Videos

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
06:08

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Published on: January 18, 2017

Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction
04:44

Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction

Published on: February 15, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Investigating Flagella-Driven Motility in Escherichia coli by Applying Three Established Techniques in a Series
07:59

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
06:08

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

Published on: January 18, 2017

Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction
04:44

Visualizing Bacterial Motility Based on a Color Reaction

Published on: February 15, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The bacterial flagellar switch controls rotation direction, vital for chemotaxis.
  • Its precise mechanism has been a long-standing mystery in microbial motility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the bacterial flagellar switch.
  • To identify novel proteins involved in flagellar assembly and function.

Main Methods:

  • Biochemical assays to detect protein-protein interactions.
  • Analysis of flagellar assembly and rotation in the presence/absence of specific proteins and compounds.

Main Results:

  • The membrane-bound fumarate reductase (FRD) was found to associate with the flagellar switch complex.
  • FRD forms a 1:1 complex with the switch protein FliG, essential for flagellar assembly and rotation direction.
  • Fumarate influences flagellar rotation direction via FRD, indicating a role beyond anaerobic respiration.

Conclusions:

  • Fumarate reductase (FRD) is a newly identified key component of the bacterial flagellar switch machinery.
  • FRD plays an unexpected role in flagellar assembly and function under aerobic conditions, challenging previous understanding of its function.