Spirochetes flagellar collar protein FlbB has astounding effects in orientation of periplasmic flagella, bacterial shape, motility, and assembly of motors in Borrelia burgdorferi.

ABSTRACT: Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is a highly motile spirochete, and motility, which is provided by its periplasmic flagella, is critical for every part of the spirochete's enzootic life cycle. Unlike externally flagellated bacteria, spirochetes possess a unique periplasmic flagellar structure called the collar. This spirochete-specific novel component is linked to the flagellar basal body; however, nothing is known about the proteins encoding the collar or their function in any spirochete. To identify a collar protein and determine its function, we employed a comprehensive strategy that included genetic, biochemical, and microscopic analyses. We found that BB0286 (FlbB) is a novel flagellar motor protein, which is located around the flagellar basal body. Deletion

SUBMITTER: Moon KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5055450 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature