A multi-state dynamic process confers mechano-adaptation to a biological nanomachine.

ABSTRACT: Adaptation is a defining feature of living systems. The bacterial flagellar motor adapts to changes in the external mechanical load by adding or removing torque-generating (stator) units. But the molecular mechanism behind this mechano-adaptation remains unclear. Here, we combine single motor eletrorotation experiments and theoretical modeling to show that mechano-adaptation of the flagellar motor is enabled by multiple mechanosensitive internal states. Dwell time statistics from experiments suggest the existence of at least two bound states with a high and a low unbinding rate, respectively. A first-passage-time analysis of a four-state model quantitatively explains the experimental data and determines the transition rates among all four states. The torque generated by bound stator units

SUBMITTER: Wadhwa N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9464220 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature