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Torque generation by the flagellar rotary motor

H C Berg1

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.

Biophysical Journal
|April 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

This review examines the bacterial flagellar motor, detailing how its force-generating elements operate differently when driving a single flagellum versus a bundle. The motor

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biophysics
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • The bacterial flagellum is a complex molecular machine enabling motility.
  • Understanding the flagellar motor's mechanics is crucial for deciphering bacterial behavior and evolution.
  • Previous studies have explored flagellar motor function, but a comprehensive review of its structure-dynamics relationship is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of the flagellar rotary motor's structure and dynamics.
  • To analyze the force-generation and speed characteristics of the flagellar motor under different conditions.
  • To elucidate the torque-speed relationship and operational limits of the bacterial motor.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on flagellar motor structure and dynamics.
  • Analysis of experimental data on force and speed measurements in tethered bacteria and flagellar bundles.
  • Examination of the motor's torque-speed characteristics across a wide dynamic range.

Main Results:

  • Force-generating elements in motors driving tethered bacteria produce forces around 20 pN at speeds of 1 micron/s.
  • Elements in motors driving flagellar bundles generate forces 10-fold lower but operate at speeds over 10-fold higher.
  • The flagellar motor exhibits strong resistance to backward rotation and is susceptible to mechanical failure.

Conclusions:

  • The flagellar rotary motor exhibits distinct operational modes depending on whether it drives a single flagellum or a bundle.
  • The motor's performance is characterized by a complex torque-speed relationship with defined operational limits.
  • Further research into flagellar motor mechanics can provide insights into bacterial adaptation and locomotion.

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