Load-dependent adaptation near zero load in the bacterial flagellar motor.

ABSTRACT: The bacterial flagellar motor is an ion-powered transmembrane protein complex which drives swimming in many bacterial species. The motor consists of a cytoplasmic 'rotor' ring and a number of 'stator' units, which are bound to the cell wall of the bacterium. Recently, it has been shown that the number of functional torque-generating stator units in the motor depends on the external load, and suggested that mechanosensing in the flagellar motor is driven via a 'catch bond' mechanism in the motor's stator units. We present a method that allows us to measure-on a single motor-stator unit dynamics across a large range of external loads, including near the zero-torque limit. By attaching superparamagnetic beads to the flagellar hook, we can control the motor's speed via a rotating magnetic fiel

SUBMITTER: Nirody JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6833329 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature