A chimeric N-terminal Escherichia coli--C-terminal Rhodobacter sphaeroides FliG rotor protein supports bidirectional E. coli flagellar rotation and chemotaxis.

ABSTRACT: Flagellate bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium typically express 5 to 12 flagellar filaments over their cell surface that rotate in clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise directions. These bacteria modulate their swimming direction towards favorable environments by biasing the direction of flagellar rotation in response to various stimuli. In contrast, Rhodobacter sphaeroides expresses a single subpolar flagellum that rotates only CW and responds tactically by a series of biased stops and starts. Rotor protein FliG transiently links the MotAB stators to the rotor, to power rotation and also has an essential function in flagellar export. In this study, we sought to determine whether the FliG protein confers directionality on flagellar motors by testing

SUBMITTER: Morehouse KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1064015 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature