Switch interactions control energy frustration and multiple flagellar filament structures.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial flagellar filament is a macromolecular assembly consisting of a single protein, flagellin. Bacterial swimming is controlled by the conformational transitions of this filament between left- and right-handed supercoils induced by the flagellar motor torque. We present a massive molecular dynamics simulation that was successful in constructing the atomic-level supercoil structures consistent with various experimental data and further in elucidating the detailed underlying molecular mechanisms of the polymorphic supercoiling. We have found that the following three types of interactions are keys to understanding the supercoiling mechanism. "Permanent" interactions are always maintained between subunits in the various supercoil structures. "Sliding" interactions are formed between vari

SUBMITTER: Kitao A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1458766 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature