How Biophysics May Help Us Understand the Flagellar Motor of Bacteria Which Cause Infections

Motor proteins are molecules which convert chemical energy to mechanical work and are responsible for motility across all levels: for transport within a cell, for the motion of an individual cell in its surroundings, and for movement in multicellular aggregates, such as muscles. The bacterial flagellar motor is one of the canonical examples of a molecular complex made from several motor proteins, which self-assembles on demand and provides the locomotive force for bacteria. This locomotion provides a key aspect of bacteria's prevalence. Here, we outline the biophysics behind the assembly, the energetics, the switching and the rotation of this remarkable nanoscale electric motor that is Nature's first wheel.