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Building a flagellum outside the bacterial cell.

Lewis D B Evans1, Colin Hughes1, Gillian M Fraser1

  • 1University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK.

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|June 29, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Bacterial flagella assemble via a type III export system, with subunits traveling through the flagellar core. Recent findings reveal a novel mechanism driving constant-rate flagellar growth.

Keywords:
bacterial flagellumcell motilitychain mechanismprotein exportrotary nanomotortype III secretion system

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Flagella are complex molecular machines essential for bacterial motility.
  • Flagellar assembly involves ordered export of thousands of subunits across the cell membrane.
  • Subunit export is mediated by a type III export machinery at the flagellum base.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on bacterial flagellar export and assembly.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of flagellar growth.
  • To present a novel mechanism for constant-rate flagellum growth.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research findings.
  • Analysis of existing data on flagellar export and assembly.
  • Synthesis of information to propose a novel growth mechanism.

Main Results:

  • Flagellar subunits are exported through a narrow channel within the flagellum.
  • Assembly occurs at the distal tip of the growing flagellum, up to 20 micrometers from the cell surface.
  • A new, unanticipated mechanism for constant-rate flagellum growth has been identified.

Conclusions:

  • The type III export system is crucial for bacterial flagellar assembly.
  • Flagellar growth occurs via a continuous process at the tip.
  • The newly identified mechanism provides insights into the dynamic regulation of flagellar elongation.