Work

A Chaperone for the Stator Units of a Bacterial Flagellum

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: The bacterial flagellum is a reversible rotating motor powered by ion transport through stator units, which also exert torque on the rotor component to turn the flagellum for motility. Species-specific adaptations to flagellar motors impact stator function to meet the demands of each species to sufficiently power flagellar rotation. We identified another evolutionary adaptation by discovering that FlgX of Campylobacter jejuni preserves the integrity of stator units by functioning as a chaperone to protect stator proteins from degradation by the FtsH protease complex due to the physiology of the bacterium. FlgX is required to maintain a level of stator units sufficient to power the naturally high-torque flagellar motor of C. jejuni for motility in intestinal mucosal layers to colonize hosts. Our work continues to identify an increasing number of adaptations to flagellar motors across bacterial species that provide the mechanics necessary for producing an effective rotating nanomachine for motility.

Source: mBio

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01732-19

Authors: Deborah A. Ribardo, Brittni R. Kelley, Jeremiah G. Johnson, David R. Hendrixson

Institutions: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology

Subfield: Genetics

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,900

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases