Structures of the stator complex that drives rotation of the bacterial flagellum.

ABSTRACT: The bacterial flagellum is the prototypical protein nanomachine and comprises a rotating helical propeller attached to a membrane-embedded motor complex. The motor consists of a central rotor surrounded by stator units that couple ion flow across the cytoplasmic membrane to generate torque. Here, we present the structures of the stator complexes from Clostridium sporogenes, Bacillus subtilis and Vibrio mimicus, allowing interpretation of the extensive body of data on stator mechanism. The structures reveal an unexpected asymmetric A₅B₂ subunit assembly where the five A subunits enclose the two B subunits. Comparison to structures of other ion-driven motors indicates that this A₅B₂ architecture is fundamental to bacterial systems that couple energ

SUBMITTER: Deme JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7610383 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature